Immediately sent forward for his bag." Now, this last sentence was susceptible of two meanings.

It is truth, that immediately upon the decease of a friendless sailor at sea, his shipmates oftentimes seize upon his effects, and divide them; though the dead man's clothes are seldom worn till a subsequent voyage.

This proceeding seems heartless.

But sailors reason thus: Better we, than the captain.

For by law, either scribbled or unscribbled, the effects of a mariner, dying on shipboard, should be held in trust by that officer.