228 FALSITY OF JEROME'S ACCOUNT — ITS AUTHOR. 



Christian name ; the chief mate's name was Hood ; 

 the second mate's, Dexter; and the third mate's, 

 Allen. There was also an acting fourth mate and 

 boatsteerer, whose name I do not remember. The 

 number of officers and crew was thirty-two. I am 

 inclined to think, that if any of the other boats 

 escaped, and had any of the officers aboard, they 

 would shape their course to the nearest port — that 

 is, Jacob's liiver. 



" ' (Signed) 



'"THEODORE JEROME. 



" ' Sworn before me, at CoUingwood, the tenth 

 day of September, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven. 

 " ' (Signed) 



'"H. G. GOULAND, 

 " ' Resident Magistrate: " 



It is almost needless to append, in explanation, that 

 the above is a tissue of falsehoods, fabricated by 

 the deserters from our ship, whilst in the South 

 Pacific. Their story is plausible ; and, were a per- 

 son not aware to the contrary, it would obtain im- 

 plicit credence. It was concocted by the one named 

 Joseph Riley. He is a native of New Jersey — of 

 Irish extraction. He has been for years in the mer- 

 chant service ; and this, united with a previous voy- 

 age whaling, rendered him well acquainted with 

 maritime afl:airs: hence, he found little difficulty in 

 weaving a j-arn that sounded plausible enough, al- 

 though there is not a particle of truth in the whole 

 account — our old ship never having leaked, during 

 the continuance of the voyage thus far, more than 

 enough to keep her sweet; only requiring to be 



