While Peters was giving this little history of his departed mate, the captain’s breakfast was announced, and the two American captains were invited to partake of it.  As we went down the ladder under the half-deck, Peters and Green could not help casting an eye of admiration at the clean and clear deck, the style of the guns, and perfect union of the useful and ornamental, so inimitably blended as they are sometimes found in our ships of war.  There was nothing in the captain’s repast beyond cleanliness, plenty, hearty welcome, and cheerfulness.

The conversation turned on the nature, quality, and number of men in the privateer.  “They are all seamen,” said Peters, “except the ten black fellows.”

“Some of them, I suspect, are English,” said I.

“It is not for me to peach,” said the wary American.  “It is difficult always to know whether a man who has been much in both countries is a native of Boston in Lincolnshire, or Boston in Massachusetts; and perhaps they don’t always know themselves.  We never ask questions when a seaman ships for us.”

“You have an abundance of our seamen, both in your marine and merchant service,” said our captain.

“Yes,” said Green; “and we are never likely to want them, while you impress for us.”

“We impress for you?” said Captain T——­, “how do you prove that?”

“Your impressment,” said the American, “fills our ships.  Your seamen will not stand it; and for every two men you take by force, rely on it, we get one of them as a volunteer.”

Peters dissented violently from this proposition, and appeared angry with Green for making the assertion.

“I see no reason to doubt it,” said Green; “I know how our fighting ships, as well as our traders, are manned.  I will take my oath that more than two-thirds have run from the British navy, because they were impressed.  You yourself have said so in my hearing, Peters—­look at your crew.”

Peters could stand conviction no longer; he burst into the most violent rage with Green; said that what ought never to have been owned to a British officer, he had let out; that it was true that America looked upon our system of impressment as the sheet-anchor of her navy; but he was sorry the important secret should ever have escaped from an American.

“For my part,” resumed Green, “I feel so deeply indebted to this gallant young Englishman for his kindness to me, that I am for ever the friend of himself and his country, and have sworn never to carry arms against Great Britain, unless to repel an invasion of my own country.”

Breakfast ended, we all went on deck; the ship and her prize were lying to; the hands were turned up; all the boats hoisted out; the prisoners and their luggage taken out of the prize, and, as the crew of the privateer came on board, they were all drawn up on the quarter-deck, and many of them known and proved to be Englishmen.  When taxed and reproached for their infamous conduct, they said it was owing to them that the privateer had been taken, for that they had left the lower studding-sail purposely hanging over the night-head, and towing in the water, by which the way of the vessel had been impeded.