Jackson, the first mate, was a bull-headed, sandy-haired Northumbrian; as we before stated, a relation of the owner’s, or he never would have been permitted to remain in the ship.  The reader has already had some insight into his diabolical character.  It will be sufficient to add, that he was coarse and blustering in his manners; that he never forgot and never forgave an injury; gratitude was not in his composition; and, to gratify his revenge, he would stop at nothing.

On the third day, the brig, which was named the Eliza and Jane, after the two daughters of the owner, arrived at Falmouth, where she anchored in the outer roads, in company with thirty or forty more, who had assembled at the appointed rendezvous.  On the second day after their arrival, a fifty-gun ship, frigate, and two corvettes, made their appearance off the mouth of the harbour; and after a due proportion of guns, some shotted and some not, the whole convoy were under weigh, and hove-to round their protectors.  The first step taken by the latter was to disembarrass their proteges of one-third of their crews, leaving them as defenceless as possible, that they might not confide in their own strength, but put their whole trust in the men-of-war, and keep as close to them as possible.  Having taken out every unprotected man, they distributed convoy signals in lieu, and half a dozen more guns announced that they were to make sail—­an order immediately complied with:  the merchant vessels, loaded with canvas below and aloft, while the men-of-war, with their topsails on the caps, sailed round and round them, firing shot at every unfortunate vessel which was not able to sail as well as the rest.

The convoy left Falmouth, seventy-five in number but in a few days there were but forty in sight.  Those who remained behind either made their voyage how they could, or were taken by the enemy’s privateers, who followed in the wake of the convoy.  Some few were carried into the French ports; and the underwriters of the policy ate but little dinner on the day which brought the intelligence of their capture.  Others were retaken by the English blockading squadrons, who received then one-eighth for salvage.  At last the men-of-war were fairly running down the traders, with about twenty-five of the best sailers in company:  and the commodore deemed it advisable to take particular care of the few which remained, lest he should be "hauled over the coals” by the Admiralty.  Nothing worth comment occurred during the remainder of the passage.  They all arrived safe at Barbadoes, when the commodore brought in his returns to the admiral, and complained bitterly of the obstinacy of the masters of merchant vessels, who would part company with him, in defiance of all his injunctions, and in spite of all the powder which he fired away to enforce his signals.  There certainly was a fault somewhere.