DIARY OF CAPTAIN LAMSON 199 



license, which was on vellum paper and in 

 my pocket, was kept from him. I showed 

 him my papers which were as they had been 

 since I was first captured. He would not 

 feel satisfied and repeatedly inquired for 

 some document to show I was liberated 

 from the Port of Yarmouth. As I had 

 availed myself of Sunday for sailing, I did 

 not'pay light money, although the bills were 

 presented Saturday. The only clearance I 

 had was the Vice Consul's account as set- 

 tled with him, as I had no call at the Cus- 

 tom House, consequently my license was 

 my ostensible paper in the last alternative. 

 He said that he saw nothing to show that 

 I was cleared by proper authority, but he 

 would go on board and if they made a sig- 

 nal I might proceed. But on going aboard 

 they were dispatched back with three more 

 officers, to investigate closely into my being 

 at sea without a proper clearance. After 

 they had been worried and teased until I 

 thought I had sufficiently punished them, I 

 then handed out my license and asked 



