Mr.Gardiner was, that season, engaged in building two large man-of-war vessels, professedly for the Mexican government.

These vessels were to be launched in the month of July, of that year, and, in failure thereof, Mr.G.would forfeit a very considerable sum of money.

So, when I entered the ship-yard, all was hurry and driving.

There were in the yard about one hundred men; of these about seventy or eighty were regular carpenters--privileged men.

Speaking of my condition here I wrote, years ago--and I have now no reason to vary the picture as follows: There was no time to learn any thing.