in the Pacific Ocean. 



39 



liquor to some of the men of their crews, and getting them so 

 drunk that they were rendered insensible, to conceal them until 

 the ship had sailed ; when, finding themselves entirely dependent 

 on him, they wilhngly enlisted under his banners, became his 

 slaves, and he the most absolute of tyrants. By this means he 

 had augmented the number to five, including himself, and every 

 means was used by him to endeavour to procure arms for them, but 

 without eflect. It is supposed that his object was to have surprised 

 some vessel, massacred her crew, and taken her off. While Patrick 

 was meditating his plans, two ships, an American and an Eng- 

 lish vessel, touched there, and applied to Patrick for vegeta- 

 bles. He promised them the greatest abundance, provided they 

 would send their boats to his landing, and their people to bring 

 them from his garden, informing them that his rascals had be- 

 come so indolent of late, that he could not get them to work. 

 This arrangement was agreed to ; two boats were sent from each 

 vessel, and hauled on the beach. Their crews all went to 

 Patrick's habitation, but neither he nor any of his people were to 

 be found ; and, after waiting until their patience was exhausted, 

 they returned to the beach, where they found only the wreck of 

 three of their boats, which were broken to pieces, and the fourth 

 one missing. They succeeded, however, after much difficulty, in 

 getting round to the bay opposite to their ships, where other 

 boats were sent to their relief; and the commanders of the ships, 

 apprehensive of some other trick, saw no security except in a 

 flight from the island, leaving Patrick and his gang in quiet pos- 

 session of the boat. But before they sailed, they put a letter in a 

 keg, giving intelhgence of the affair, and moored it in the bay, 

 where it was found by Captain Randall, but not imtil he had 

 sent his boat to Patrick's landing, for the purpose of procuring 

 refreshments ; and, as may be easily supposed, he felt no little 

 inquietude until her return, when she brought him a letter from 

 Patrick to the following purport, which was found in his hut. 



Sir, 



I have made repeated applications to captains of vessels to sell 

 me a boat, or to take me from this place, but in every instance 

 met with a refusal. An opportunity presented itself to possess 

 myself of one, and I took advantage of it. I have been a long 

 time endeavouring, by hard labour and suffering, to accumulate 

 wherewith to make myself comfortable; but at different times 

 have been robbed and maltreated, and in a late instance by Cap- 

 tain Paddock, whose conduct in punishing me, and robbing me 

 of about five hundred dollars, in cash and other articles, neither 

 agrees with the principles he professes, nor is it such as his sleek 

 coat would lead one to expect. 



