A youthful man-o'-warsman, from the diary of an English lad who served in the British frigate Macedonian during her memorable action with the American frigate United States; who afterward deserted and (14758387166)

Identifier: youthfulmanowars00macl (find matches)
Title: A youthful man-o'-warsman, from the diary of an English lad ... who served in the British frigate Macedonian during her memorable action with the American frigate United States; who afterward deserted and entered the American Navy ..
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Maclay, Edgar Stanton, 1863-1919
Subjects: Leech, Samuel, 1798-1848 Adventure and adventurers Sailors United States -- History War of 1812 Personal narratives
Publisher: Greenlawn, N.Y., Navy Blue Company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation



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agonizing fear, he awaited the outcome ofthis summons for the boy Leech —which wasalways the way he had been summoned whenaboard the Macedonian. Pass the word for the boy Leech! was re-peated by several gruff boatswains mates and, aseach order came nearer to the place where ourhero was waiting, there seemed to be no doubtbut that it was intended for him. Indeed, severalof the American prisoners said to him: That means you. Samuel was so terrified that he could make nomotion, nor could he control his voice so as toanswer. Perhaps it was fortunate for him thathe remained silent for, a moment later, he heardsome one say: Your master wants you. This convinced Samuel that there was a BoyLeech in the frigates crew as well as amongthe prisoners and so it proved—though ourfriend declared that he did not breathe freelyagain for a week afterward and that at night hesuffered from the most hideous nightmares. When at St. Helena it was learned that warwith France was ended. This was gratifying
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View of a gundeck in an English Line of Battle Ship: I Peace or War? 173 news to the sailors as tlicy were all liopinpf to j^ctdischarged. On the run from this island to Kiip^-land, however, it was learned from a passingship that Napoleon had escaped from Elha andwas at Paris with sixty thousand men so that thewar was on again, Nothing, said Samuel. could exceed the joy of the officers at this an-nouncement and the corresponding vexation ofthe crew. The former dreaded peace because itmeant half pay, no prize money, and little chanceof promotion. At last the white cliffs of Old England rose above the horizon. To avoid suspicion our heropretended to be very much interested in everything about the new land, asking such ques-tions as any foreigner might. ** I could not be-hold myself approaching my native land,records Samuel, without many misgivings. Toa man who knows a halter is hanging over hishead, everything furnished cause for alarm; apiercing look, a whisper or the sudden mentionof my name caused me to tre