405 



ly, and in the dark, you will fuppofe that 

 much hurry and confufion was created. Being 

 wakened by the nolle and running of people 

 over my head, I put on my robe de chambre^ 

 and went up to learn the caufe, when, finding 

 it to be the prefs-gang, I felt a ftrong difpo- 

 fition to obferve their conduct and manner of 

 proceeding, and therefore remained upon deck, 

 during the whole time they continued on 

 board. 



A Lieutenant of the navy w^as flalking 

 up and down with a huge drawn fabre in his 

 hand, calling out, with boatfwain's lungs, for 

 the fteward to bring up a light. His men were 

 running about every part of the fliip armed 

 with cutlafTes, piftols, hangers, and various 

 other weapons, and inftruments of death. 

 Such of the failors of the £hip whom they 

 found upon deck, were inftantly tumbled in- 

 to a boat at the fide, filled with armed men, 

 ^ The others fecreted themfelves in holes and 

 corners, while the old fteward with feeming 

 hafte, but with fox-like cunning, delayed the 

 light. Perhaps you will fay it was a little fe- 

 vere to demand a light, at all, from the fhip, 

 in order to rob her of her own men \ but the 



