1793* letter Ji-om Chokabloci. 33^ 



would have it, a flaming- Rufsian captain of a 

 man of war, came right down upon us from the 

 guard house, carrying a scarlet awning* over his 

 head, which made us all stare again, and scattered the 

 whole squadron, to give him sea room. Some of us 

 threw up in the wind, to look at him ; others bore 

 away, and whilst I was clapping hard a-port, to 

 give him a good birth, I unfortunately ran foul of a 

 sentry box, and overset it. The lubberly soldier 

 made such a bawling in his tub, that the whole 

 guard turned out, and took me, after a smart chase, 

 just as I was weathering an unlucky apple stall 

 that was moored right in the road ; but had not I 

 had such a heavy head sea against me, the clumsy- 

 land lubbers, ftiould not have come up with 

 me so fast. 



'* Would you believe mefsmate, that instead of 

 taking me in tow like a fair prize, who had done 

 nothing but capsize a sentry box, in steering clear 

 of an iron bound captain, they put me in irons and 

 lugged me along like a pirate, as Davy Jones will 

 lug them one day on their long voyage. 



" Pray send a hand afhore to get me quickly out 

 of this Muscovite limbo, and pay my ransom, or I 

 {hall kick the bucket with vexation in a few tides, 

 as sure as I am a seaman and your mefsmate." 



Bob Ratend boatswairi's mate. 



There is a spell of slack jaw for you master Mar- 

 Jinspike, that matches your Peterfburgh journal ; 

 and from as briik a seaman as ever handed a top- 



* A paiaso). 



