PORTER'S JOURNAL- 
208 
, found him in his cot, with his face down; and, after considerable 
difficulty, and repeated efforts to move him, succeeded in turning 
him over. He now requested me to let him alone ; I told him, 
as he was evidently in his senses, and apparently knew what he 
was about, I was determined to investigate the cause of his con¬ 
duct. Lie then sprang up, and with great violence of gesture 
and language demanded to know what I intended to do, observ 
ing, at the same time, that he had been drunk, and had not had 
time to get sober. I informed him that he was under arrest, 
He asked me how long. I told him, as long as the cruize lasted. 
He then seized a pistol, which he attempted to load, observing, 
that myself nor any other should have the satisfaction of arrest¬ 
ing him. As there was a threatening manner with him, and not 
knowing whether he intended to use the pistol against me or 
himself, I grasped him and took it from him. He then attempt¬ 
ed to load another, which was also taken from him. He then 
assured me he had no intentions of using the pistol against me ; 
that, if I would permit him, he would blow his own brains out, 
observing, that he would put an end to his existence before morn¬ 
ing. I now sent for a guard, and had his room searched for 
arms, which were all taken away from him, and afterwards con¬ 
fined him there, with two centinels at the door, with orders not t& 
permit him to leave it. When the arms were taken out, he re¬ 
fused to go into the room until some violence was used to compel 
higi; he, however, became at length pacified, and by morning 
dejected and penitent. He frequently declared, that, as he had 
violated his promise to me as well as to his brother officers who 
had interceded for him, he could not survive the shame, and had 
formed the determination of putting an end to his existence the 
first opportunity which presented itself. 
The ship now being left with only one sea lieutenant, it be¬ 
came necessary to supply the deficiency, and the more so as I 
had suffered lately much from the want of officers; I therefore 
ordered lieutenant M‘Knight to join the Essex, placing Mr. 
Adams, the chaplain, in charge of the Atlantic; gave the sailing- 
master the appointment of acting third lieutenant; and appointed 
midshipman J. S. Cowan acting fourth lieutenant, giving the ap* 
