Many of them he knew by sight as loafers on the wharves and as troublesome or riotous characters.

Three or four were men of different type.

There were two or three respectable mechanics--men who had had, at various times, drawn upon them the dislikes of the great men of the town by insisting on their rights; and there were two idle young fellows of a higher class, who had vexed their friends beyond endurance.
Presently the officer in charge of the recruiting party, who had now come on board, came down into the hold.

He was at once assailed with a storm of curses and angry remonstrances.
"Look here, my lads," he said, raising his hand for silence, "it is of no use your going on like this, and I warn you that the sooner you make up your minds that you have got to serve her majesty the better for you, because that you have got to do it is certain.

You have all been impressed according to act of parliament, and there is no getting out of it.