The power of the captain in these cases was well known, and we all
anticipated a difficulty. F--- (called Mr. by virtue of his office)
was but half a sailor, having always been short voyages and remained
at home a long time between them. His father was a man of some
property, and intended to have given his son a liberal education;
but he, being idle and worthless, was sent off to sea, and succeeded
no better there; for, unlike many scamps, he had none of the qualities
of a sailor- he was "not of the stuff that they make 'lors of." He
was one of that class of officers who are disliked by their captain
and despised by the crew. He used to hold long yarns with the crew,
and talk about the captain, and play with the boys, and relax
discipline in every way. This kind of conduct always makes the captain
suspicious, and is never pleasant, in the end, to the men; they
preferring to have an officer active, vigilant, and distant as may be,
with kindness. Among other bad practices, he frequently slept on his
watch, and having been discovered asleep by the captain, he was told
that he would be turned off duty if he did it again.
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