His small size and puny appearance must have operated very much against his hopes of obtaining employment in a service which particularly calls for manhood and muscle.

In what capacity, or in what sort of vessel he obtained a berth, we are left wholly to conjecture.

Choosing the sea as a vocation, and laudably resolved on acquiring a proper knowledge of his business (as from what we know of his character, we may suppose was the case), he most probably went before the mast.

His first and only voyage was unfortunate.

The ship in which he sailed was no doubt equally frail and small.