DIARY OF CAPTAIN LAMSON 191 



boy with the ward room boy. He informed 

 me as soon as I was gone up, they fell upon 

 the porpoise and finished it in a twinkling, 

 not leaving any for their boys. 



In the forenoon I was walking with the 

 Purser, who appeared to suffer from the 

 unfortunate association with such brutes. 

 The first Lieutenant, about half drunk, 

 was walking on the Larboard side of the 

 deck with the Captain's Clerk, and he re- 

 peatedly and loudly observed if he could 

 meet the American frigate Constitution, 

 with his ship and crew, he would capture 

 her. As he frequently turned toward me, 

 I presumed he meant to insult me. I told 

 him if his conversation was addressed to 

 me, he was no gentleman to make use of it 

 in that manner and I hoped that I should 

 meet him shortly in England, where I would 

 call him to account for it. He replied that 

 if I gave him any abuse he would have me 

 confined. I told him it was more than his 

 Master dare do, and I then told him that 

 on my arrival at Yarmouth, I would pub- 



