After the poor fellow
had taken this harangue, he was sent into his stateroom, and the
captain stood the rest of the watch himself.
At seven bells in the morning, all hands were called aft and told
that F--- was no longer an officer on board, and that we might
choose one of our own number for second mate. It is usual for the
captain to make this offer, and it is very good policy, for the crew
think themselves the choosers and are flattered by it, but have to
obey, nevertheless. Our crew, as is usual, refused to take the
responsibility of choosing a man of whom we would never be able to
complain, and left it to the captain. He picked out an active and
intelligent young sailor, born near the Kennebec, who had been several
Canton voyages, and proclaimed him in the following manner: "I
choose Jim Hall- he's your second mate. All you've got to do is to
obey him as you would me; and remember that he is Mr. Hall." F--- went
forward into the forecastle as a common sailor, and lost the handle to
his name, while young foremast Jim became Mr. Hall, and took up his
quarters in the land of knives and forks and tea-cups.
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