Thus much I could not refrain from saying, not that I think John Bull is very often right in his controversies with ourselves, but because I think, in this case, he is; and because I believe it far safer, in the long run, for a nation, or an individual, to have justice on his side, than always to carry his point.

I was soon on deck, carrying my writing-desk under my arm, Mr. Sennit preferring to make his examination in the open air, to making it below.  He read the clearance and manifest with great attention.  Afterwards he asked for the shipping articles.  I could see that he examined the names of the crew with eagerness, for the man was in his element when adding a new hand to his frigate’s crew.

“Let me see this Nebuchadnezzar Clawbonny, Mr. Wallingford,” he said, chuckling.  “The name has an alias in its very absurdity, and I doubt not I shall see a countryman—­perhaps a townsman.”

“By turning your head, sir, you can easily see the man.  He is at the wheel.”

“A black!—­umph—­yes; those fellows do sometimes sail under droll titles.  I do not think the lad was born at Gosport.”

“He was born in my father’s house, sir, and is my slave.”

“Slave!  A pretty word in the mouth of a free and independent son of liberty, Mr. Wallingford.  It is lucky you are not bound to that land of despotism, old England, or you might see the fetters fall from about the chap’s limbs.”

I was nettled, for I felt there was some justice in this sarcasm, and this, too, at the very moment I felt it was only half-merited:  and not at all, perhaps, from an Englishman.  But Sennit knew as much of the history of my country as he did of his own, having obtained all he had learned of either out of newspapers.  Nevertheless, I succeeded in keeping silent.

“Nathan Hitchcock; this chap has a suspiciously Yankee name; will you let me see him, sir,” observed the lieutenant.

“The chap’s name, then, does him no more than justice, for I believe he is strictly what we call a Yankee.”

Nathan came aft at the call of the second-mate, and Sennit no sooner saw him than he told him to go forward again.  It was easy to see that the man was perfectly able to distinguish, by means of the eye alone, between the people of the two countries, though the eye would sometimes deceive even the most practised judges.  As the Speedy was not much in want of men, he was disposed not to lay his hands on any but his own countrymen.

“I shall have to ask you, sir, to muster all your people in the gangway,” said Sennit, rising, as he passed me the ship’s papers.  “I am only a supernumerary of the Speedy, and I expect we shall soon have the pleasure of seeing her first on board, the Honourable Mr. Powlett.  We are a nob ship, having Lord Harry Dermond for our captain, and lots of younger sons in the cock-pit.”