DIARY OF CAPTAIN LAMSON 195 



The Pilot, a decent man, called a North 

 Sea Pilot, was on deck. He told me that 

 he was in actual danger of his life and had 

 been all the cruise, that it was a mercy that 

 they were arrived safe without some dis- 

 aster, as her cockpit near the magazine was 

 exposed to fire every night, and owing to 

 so much intoxication on board he should 

 write for his discharge. 



The Captain of a sloop of war, which lay 

 near us, came on board and not a soul re- 

 ceived him. He came on deck, walked be- 

 low, returned on deck and left the ship. 

 He was an elderly man and felt much mor- 

 tified by her condition. The following day I 

 landed and at 1 p. M. called on his Majesty's 

 Officers appointed for the investigation of 

 prize cases, and very briefly I told them my 

 story, as well as handed them three affa- 

 davits which had been taken on board their 

 ships, they not knowing of it. I drew them 

 up and the three pilots signed them as well 

 as the Heligoland Pilot, and, as they all 

 arrived at Yarmouth, I had them sworn to. 



