University of Virginia Library

1. CHAPTER I.

In consenting to lay before the world the experience of a
common seaman, and, I may add, of one who has been such
a sinner as the calling is only too apt to produce, I trust
that no feeling of vanity has had an undue influence. I
love the seas; and it is a pleasure to me to converse about
them, and of the scenes I have witnessed, and of the hardships
I have undergone on their bosom, in various parts of
the world. Meeting with an old shipmate who is disposed
to put into proper form the facts which I can give him, and
believing that my narrative may be useful to some of those
who follow the same pursuit as that in which I have been so
long engaged, I see no evil in the course I am now taking,
while I humbly trust it may be the means of effecting some
little good. God grant that the pictures I shall feel bound
to draw of my own past degradation and failings, contrasted
as they must be with my present contentment and hopes, may
induce some one, at least, of my readers to abandon the excesses
so common among seamen, and to turn their eyes in
the direction of those great truths which are so powerful to
reform, and so convincing when regarded with humility, and
with a just understanding of our own weaknesses.

I know nothing of my family, except through my own
youthful recollections, and the accounts I have received from
my sister. My father I slightly remember; but of my mother
I retain no distinct impressions. The latter must have
died while I was very young. The former, I was in the
habit of often seeing, until I reached my fifth or sixth year.
He was a soldier, and belonged to the twenty-third regiment
of foot, in the service of the King of Great Britain.[1] The

fourth son of this monarch, Prince Edward as he was then
called, or the Duke of Kent as he was afterwards styled,
commanded the corps, and accompanied it to the British
American colonies, where it was stationed for many years.

I was born in Quebec, between the years 1792 and 1794;
probably in 1793. Of the rank of my father in the regiment,
I am unable to speak, though I feel pretty confident
he was a commissioned officer. He was much with the
prince; and I remember that, on parade, where I have often
seen him, he was in the habit of passing frequently from the
prince to the ranks—a circumstance that induces my old
shipmate to think he may have been the adjutant. My
father, I have always understood, was a native of Hanover,
and the son of a clergyman in that country. My mother,
also, was said to be a German, though very little is now
known of her by any of the family. She is described to me
as living much alone, as being occupied in pursuits very different
from those of my father, and as being greatly averse
to the life of a soldier.

I was baptized in the Church of England, and, from
earliest boyhood, have always been given to understand that
His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, the father of Queen
Victoria, stood for me at the font; Major Walker, of the
same regiment, being the other god-father, and Mrs. Walker,
his wife, my god-mother. My real names are Edward Robert
Meyers; those received in baptism having been given me
by my two sponsors, after themselves. This christening,
like my birth, occurred in Quebec. I have, however,
called myself Edward, or Ned, Myers, ever since I took to
the sea.

Before I was old enough to receive impressions to be retained,
the regiment removed to Halifax. My father accompanied
it; and, of course, his two children, my sister Harriet
and myself, were taken to Nova Scotia. Of the period of
my life that was passed in Halifax, I retain tolerably distinct
recollections; more especially of the later years. The prince
and my father both remained with the regiment for a considerable
time; though all quitted Halifax several years
before I left it myself. I remember Prince Edward perfectly
well. He sometimes resided at a house called the Lodge, a
little out of town; and I was often taken out to see him. He

also had a residence in town. He took a good deal of notice
of me; raising me in his arms, and kissing me. When he
passed our house, I would run to him; and he would lead
me through the streets himself. On more than one occasion,
he led me off, and sent for the regimental tailor; directing
suits of clothes to be made for me, after his own taste.
He was a large man; of commanding presence, and frequently
wore a star on the breast of his coat. He was not
then called the Duke of Kent, but Prince Edward, or The
Prince. A lady lived with him at the Lodge; but who she
was, I do not know.

At this time, my mother must have been dead; for of her
I retain no recollection whatever. I think, my father left
Halifax some time before the prince. Major Walker, too,
went to England; leaving Mrs. Walker in Nova Scotia, for
some time. Whether my father went away with a part of
the regiment to which he belonged, or not, I cannot say;
but I well remember a conversation between the prince, the
major and Mrs. Walker, in which they spoke of the loss of
a transport, and of Meyers's saving several men. This must
have been at the time when my father quitted Nova Scotia;
to which province, I think, he never could have returned.
Neither my sister, nor myself, ever saw him afterwards.
We have understood that he was killed in battle; though
when, or where, we do not know. My old shipmate, the
editor, however, thinks it must have been in Canada; as
letters were received from a friend in Quebec, after I had
quitted Nova Scotia, inquiring after us children, and stating
that the effects of my father were in that town, and ought to
belong to us. This letter gave my sister the first account
of his death; though it was not addressed to her, but to
those in whose care she had been left. This property was
never recovered; and my shipmate, who writes this account,
thinks there may have been legal difficulties in the way.

Previously to quitting the province of Nova Scotia, my
father placed Harriet and myself in the house of a Mr.
Marchinton, to live. This gentleman was a clergyman,
who had no regular parish, but who preached in a chapel
of his own. He sent us both to school, and otherwise took
charge of us. I am not aware of the precise time when the

prince left Halifax, but it must have been when I was five
or six years old—probably about the year 1798 or 1799.[2]

From that time I continued at Mr. Marchinton's, attending
school, and busied, as is usual with boys of that age, until
the year 1805. I fear I was naturally disposed to idleness
and self-indulgence, for I became restive and impatient under
the restraints of the schoolmaster, and of the gentleman in
whose family I had been left. I do not know that I had any
just grounds of complaint against Mr. Marchinton; but his
rigorous discipline disgusted me; principally, I am now inclined
to believe, because it was not agreeable to me to be kept
under any rigid moral restraint. I do not think I was very
vicious; and, I know, I was far from being of a captions
temperament; but I loved to be my own master; and I particularly
disliked everything like religious government. Mr.
Marchinton, moreover, kept me out of the streets; and it was
my disposition to be an idler, and at play. It is possible he
may have been a little too severe for one of my temperament;
though, I fear, nature gave me a roving and changeful
mind.

At that time the English cruisers sent in many American
vessels as prizes. Our house was near the water; and I
was greatly in the habit of strolling along the wharves,
whenever an opportunity occurred; Mr. Marchinton owning
a good deal of property in that part of the town. The Cambrian
frigate had a midshipman, a little older than myself,
who had been a schoolmate of mine. This lad, whose name
was Bowen, was sent in as the nominal prize-master of a
brig loaded with coffee; and I no sooner learned the fact,
than I began to pay him visits. Young Bowen encouraged
me greatly, in a wish that now arose within me, to become
a sailor. I listened eagerly to the history of his adventures,
and felt the usual boyish emulation. Mr. Marchinton seemed
averse to my following the profession, and these visits became
frequent and stealthy; my wishes, most probably,

increasing, in proportion as they seemed difficult of accomplishment.

I soon began to climb the rigging of the brig, ascending
to the mast-heads. One day Mr. Marchinton saw me quite
at the main-truck; and, calling me down, I got a severe
flogging for my dexterity and enterprise. It sometimes
happens that punishment produces a result exactly opposite
to that which was intended; and so it turned out in the present
instance. My desire to be a sailor increased in consequence
of this very flogging; and I now began seríously to
think of running away, in order to get to sea, as well as to
escape a confinement on shore, that, to me, seemed unreasonable.
Another prize, called the Amsterdam Packet, a Philadelphia
ship, had been sent in by, I believe, the Cleopatra,
Sir Robert Laurie. On board this ship were two American
lads, apprentices. With these boys I soon formed an intimacy;
and their stories of the sea, and their accounts of the
States, coupled with the restraints I fancied I endured, gave
rise to a strong desire to see their country, as well as to
become a sailor. They had little to do, and enjoyed great
liberty, going and coming much as they pleased. This
idleness seemed, to me, to form the summit of human happiness.
I did not often dare to play truant; and the school
became odious to me. According to my recollections, this
desire for a change must have existed near, or quite a
twelvemonth; being constantly fed by the arrival and departure
of vessels directly before my eyes, ere I set about
the concocting of a serious plan to escape.

My project was put in execution in the summer of 1805,
when I could not have been more than eleven years old, if,
indeed, quite as old. I was in the market one day, and
overheard some American seamen, who had been brought
in, conversing of a schooner that was on the point of leaving
Halifax, for New York. This vessel belonged to North
Carolina, and had been captured by the Driver, some time
before, but had been liberated by a decision of the Admiralty
Court. The men I overheard talking about her, intended
taking their passages back to their own country in
the craft. This seemed to me a good opportunity to effect
my purpose, and I went from the market, itself, down to the
schooner. The mate was on board alone, and I took courage,

and asked him if he did not want to ship a boy. My
dress and appearance were both against me, as I had never
done any work, and was in the ordinary attire of a better
class lad on shore. The mate began to laugh at me, and to
joke me on my desire to go to sea, questioning me about
my knowledge. I was willing to do anything; but, perceiving
that I made little impression, I resorted to bribery.
Prince Edward had made me a present, before he left Halifax,
of a beautiful little fowling-piece, which was in my own
possession; and I mentioned to the mate that I was the owner
of such an article, and would give it to him if he would consent
to secrete me in the schooner, and carry me to New
York. This bait took, and I was told to bring the fowling-piece
on board, and let the mate see it. That night I carried
the bribe, as agreed on, to this man, who was perfectly
satisfied with its appearance, and we struck a bargain on
the spot. I then returned to the house, and collected a few
of my clothes. I knew that my sister, Harriet, was making
some shirts for me, and I stole into her room, and brought
away two of them, which were all I could find. My wardrobe
was not large when I left the house, and I had taken
the precaution of carrying the articles out one at a time, and
of secreting them in an empty cask in the yard. When I
thought I had got clothes enough, I made them into a bundle,
and carried them down to the schooner. The mate then
cleared out a locker in the cabin, in which there were some
potatoes, and told me I must make up my mind to pass a
few hours in that narrow berth. Too thoughtless to raise
any objections, I cheerfully consented, and took my leave
of him with the understanding that I was to be on board,
again, early in the morning.

Before going to bed, I desired a black servant of Mr.
Marchinton's to call me about day-break, as I desired to go
out and pick berries. This was done, and I was up and
dressed before any other member of the family was stirring.
I lost no time, but quitted the house, and walked deliberately
down to the schooner. No one was up on board of her, and
I was obliged to give the mate a call, myself. This man
now seemed disposed to draw back from his bargain, and I
had to use a good deal of persuasion before I could prevail
on him to be as good as his word. He did not like to part

with the fowling-piece, but seemed to think it would be fairly
purchased, could he persuade me to run away. At length
he yielded, and I got into the locker, where I was covered
with potatoes.

I was a good while in this uncomfortable situation, before
there were any signs of the vessel's quitting the wharf. I
began to grow heartily tired of the confinement, and the
love of change revived within me in a new form. The potatoes
were heavy for me to bear, and the confined air rendered
my prison almost insupportable. I was on the point of
coming out of prison, when the noise on deck gave me the
comfortable assurance that the people had come on board,
and that the schooner was about to sail. I could hear men
conversing, and, after a period of time that seemed an age,
I felt satisfied the schooner was fairly under way. I heard
a hail from one of the forts as we passed down the harbour,
and, not long after, the Driver, the very sloop of war that
had sent the vessel in, met her, and quite naturally hailed
her old prize, also. All this I heard in my prison, and it
served to reconcile me to the confinement. As everything
was right, the ship did not detain us, and we were permitted
to proceed.

It was noon before I was released. Going on deck, I
found that the schooner was at sea. Nothing of Halifax was
visible but a tower or two, that were very familiar objects
to me. I confess I now began to regret the step I had taken,
and, could I have been landed, it is probable my roving disposition
would have received a salutary check. It was too
late, however, and I was compelled to continue in the thorny
and difficult path on which I had so thoughtlessly entered.
I often look back to this moment, and try to imagine what
might have been my fortunes, had I never taken this unlucky
step. What the prince might have done for me, it is impossible
to say; though I think it probable that, after the death
of my father, I should have been forgotten, as seems to have
been the case with my sister, who gradually fell from being
considered and treated as one of the family in which she
lived, into a sort of upper servant.

I have learned, latterly, that Mr. Marchinton had a great
search made for me. It was his impression I was drowned,
and several places were dragged for my body. This opinion

lasted until news of my being in New York reached the
family.

My appearance on deck gave rise to a great many jokes
between the captain of the schooner, and his mate. I was
a good deal laughed at, but not badly treated, on the whole.
My office was to be that of cook—by no means a very difficult
task in that craft, the camboose consisting of two pots
set in bricks, and the dishes being very simple. In the
cabin, sassafras was used for tea, and boiled pork and beef
composed the dinner. The first day, I was excused from
entering on the duties of my office, on account of sea-sickness;
but, the next morning, I set about the work in good
earnest. We had a long passage, and my situation was not
very pleasant. The schooner was wet, and the seas she
shipped would put out my fire. There was a deck load of
shingles, and I soon discovered that these made excellent
kindling wood; but it was against the rules of the craft to
burn cargo, and my friend the mate had bestowed a few
kicks on me before I learned to make the distinction. In
other respects, I did tolerably well; and, at the end of about
ten days, we entered Sandy Hook.

Such was my first passage at sea, or, at least, the first I
can remember, though I understand we were taken from
Quebec to Halifax by water. I was not cured of the wish
to roam by this experiment, though, at that age, impressions
are easily received, and as readily lost. Some idea may be
formed of my recklessness, and ignorance of such matters,
at this time, from the circumstance that I do not remember
ever to have known the name of the vessel in which I left
Nova Scotia. Change and adventure were my motives, and
it never occurred to me to inquire into a fact that was so
immaterial to one of my temperament. To this hour, I am
ignorant on the subject.

The schooner came up, and hauled in abreast of Fly
Market. She did not come close to the wharf, but made
fast, temporarily, at its end, outside of two or three other
vessels. This took place not long after breakfast. I set
about the preparations for dinner, which was ready, as usual,
at twelve o'clock. While the crew were eating this meal,
I had nothing to do, and, seeing a number of boys on the
wharf, I went ashore, landing for the first time in this, my

adopted country. I was without hat, coat, or shoes; my
feet having become sore from marching about among the
shingles. The boys were licking molasses from some hogsheads,
and I joined in the occupation with great industry. I
might have been occupied in this manner, and in talking
with the boys, an hour or more, when I bethought me of my
duty on board. On looking for the schooner, she was gone!
Her people, no doubt, thought I was below, and did not
miss me, and she had been carried to some other berth;
where, I did not know. I could not find her, nor did I ever
see her again.

Such, then, was my entrance on a new scene. Had I
known enough to follow the wharves, doubtless I should
have found the vessel; but, after a short search, I returned
to the boys and the molasses.

That I was concerned at finding myself in a strange
place, without a farthing in my pockets—without hat, shoes
or coat, is certain — but it is wonderful how little apprehension
I felt. I knew nothing, and feared nothing. While
licking the molasses, I told the boys my situation; and I met
with a great deal of sympathy among them. The word
passed from one to the other, that a “poor English boy had
lost his vessel, and did not know where to go to pass the
night.” One promised me a supper; and, as for lodgings,
the general opinion seemed to be, that I might find a berth
under one of the butchers' stalls, in the adjacent market. I
had different projects for myself, however.

There was a family of the name of Clark, then residing
in New York, that I had known in Halifax. I remembered
to have heard my sister, Harriet, speaking of them, not long
before I quitted home, and that she said they lived in, or
near, Fly Market. I knew we were at Fly Market; and
the name recalled these people. I inquired, accordingly, if
any one knew such a family; but met with no success in
discovering them. They were strangers; and no one knew
them. It was now near sunset; and I determined to look
for these people myself. On this errand, then, I set off;
walking up the market until I reached Maiden Lane. While
strolling along the street, I heard a female voice suddenly
exclaim: “Lord! here is Edward Myers, without anything
on him!” At the next instant, Susan Clark, one of the

daughters, came running into the street; and presently I was
in the house, surrounded by the whole family.

Of course, I was closely questioned; and I told the whole
truth. The Clarks were extremely kind to me, offering me
clothes, and desiring to keep me with them; but I did not
like the family, owing to old quarrels with the boys, and a
certain sternness in the father, who had made complaints of
my stealing his fruit, while in Halifax. I was innocent; and
the whole proceeding had made me regard Mr. Clark as a
sort of enemy. My principal motive, in inquiring for the
family, was to learn where a certain Dr. Heizer[3] This gentleman was a German, who had formerly been in
the army; and I knew he was then in New York. In him
I had more confidence; and I determined to throw myself on
his kindness.

After declining a great many offers, I got the address of
Dr. Heizer, and proceeded in quest of his residence, just as
I was. It was moonlight, and I went through the streets
with boyish confidence. My route lay up Broadway, and
my destination was one of its corners and Hester Street.
In 1805, this was nearly out of town, being near Canal
street. I had been told to look for a bridge, which then
stood in Broadway, and which answered for a landmark, in
my new navigation. The bridge I found easily; and,
making inquiries at a house, I was told the family I sought
lived next door.

The Heizers were greatly surprised at my appearance.
I was questioned, of course; and told them the naked truth.
I knew concealment would be useless; was naturally frank,
notwithstanding what I had just done; and I began to feel
the want of friends. I was fed; and that same evening, Dr.
and Mrs. Heizer led me down Broadway, and equipped me
in a neat suit of clothes. Within a week, I was sent regularly to school.

I never knew what Dr. Heizer did, in relation to my
arrival. I cannot but think that he communicated the circumstances
to Mr. Marchinton, who was well known to

him; though, Harriet tells me, the first intelligence they got
of me was of a much later date, and came from another
source. Let this be as it might, I was kindly treated; living,
in all respects, as if I were one of the family. There was no
son; and they all seemed to consider me as one.

I remained in this family the autumn of 1805, and the
winter and spring of 1806. I soon tired of school, and
began to play truant; generally wandering along the
wharves, gazing at the ships. Dr. Heizer soon learned this;
and, watching me, discovered the propensity I still retained
for the sea. He and Mrs. Heizer now took me aside, and
endeavoured to persuade me to return to Halifax; but I had
become more and more averse to taking this backward step.
To own the truth, I had fearful misgivings on the subject of
floggings; and I dreaded a long course of severity and discipline.
It is certain, that, while rigid rules of conduct are
very necessary to some dispositions, there are others with
which they do not succeed. Mine was of the latter class;
for, I think, I am more easily led, than driven. At all
events, I had a horror of going back; and refused to listen
to the proposal. After a good deal of conversation, and
many efforts at persuasion, Dr. Heizer consented to let me
go to sea, from New York; or affected to consent; I never
knew which.

The Leander, Miranda's flag-ship, in his abortive attempt
to create a revolution in Spanish-America, was then lying
in the Hudson; and Dr. Heizer, who was acquainted with
some one connected with her, placed me in this ship, with
the understanding I was to go in her to Holland. I passed
the day on board; going up to my new employer's house,
for my meals, and to sleep. This course of life may have
lasted a fortnight; when I became heartily tired of it. I
found I had a mistress, now, as well as a master. The
former set me to cleaning knives, boots, candlesticks, and
other similar employments; converting me into a sort of
scullion. My pride revolted at this. I have since thought
it possible, all this was done to create disgust, and to induce
me to return to Mr. Marchinton; but it had a very contrary
effect.

My desire was to be a sailor. One Sunday I had been
on board the ship, and, after assisting the mato to show the

bunting fore and aft, I went back to the house. Here my
mistress met me with a double allowance of knives to clean.
We had a quarrel on the subject; I protesting against all
such work. But to clean the knives I was compelled. About
half were thrown over the fence, into the adjoining yard;
and, cleaning what remained, I took my hat, went to the
doctor's, and saw no more of my mistress, or of the Leander.