porter's journal. 



1S9 



to result, should'all hands so far forget their duty "to the ser- 

 vice, and their respect to my orders, as to fo'low the exam- 

 ple of those who were now under punishment for going 

 on shore without leave. All seemed impressed with a 

 sense of the necessity of strict subordination. I now in- 

 formed them of the report which had been circulated, 

 and assured them that although I gave no credit to it, 

 should such an event take place, I would without hesita- 

 tion, put a match to the magazine, and blow them all to 

 eternity. I added, " perhaps there may be some grounds 

 for the report, let me see who are and who are not dispo- 

 sed to obey my orders ; you who are inclined to get the 

 ship under way come on the starboard side, and you who are 

 otherwise disposed, remain where you are." All hasten- 

 ed to the starboard side. I now called out White : he 

 advanced, trembling. I informed them this was the man 

 who had circulated a report so injurious to the character 

 of the crew, and indignation was marked on every coun- 

 tenance. An Indian canoe was paddling by the ship ; I 

 directed the fellow to get into her, and never let me see 

 his face again. All now returned cheerfully to their duty. 

 The prizes Seringapatam, Sir Andrew Hammond, and 

 Greenwich, were safely moored under the fort, and placed 

 under charge of lieutenant Gamble, of the marines, who, 

 with midshipman Feltus and twenty-one men, volunteered 

 to remain with them until my return, or until they could 

 receive further orders from me. In my orders to lieuten- 

 ant Gamble, I exhorted him to pay every regard to the 

 most friendly intercourse with the natives, and to endea- 

 vour to introduce among them the cultivation of seeds 

 of different kinds, which I left with him. My views in 

 leaving him with these vessels were to secure the means 

 of repairing my ships in case of an action on the coast. 

 And to avoid his being unnecessarily detained here, I gave 

 him orders to leave the island in five and a half months 

 from the time of my departure, if he should not hear of 

 me before the expiration of that period. My orders to 

 him, which were very full, I was under the necessity of 

 destroying at the time of my capture, as well as several 

 parts of my Journal of this period, as it would have been 

 highly improper to have let it fall into the enemy's hands. 

 Should lieutenant Gamble arrive safe. I shall hope to have 



