If ever four fellows were kept busy, we were the four from the 20th of May to the 6th of June.

Our ship-stores we bought in Boston, and had them sent to Gloucester by rail.

It seemed desirable for us landsmen to have our food as nearly like that we had been in the habit of having as possible.

We accordingly purchased five barrels of flour (not a little of it spoiled) at eight dollars per barrel; three of salt pork at sixteen dollars per barrel; two of beef at twelve dollars; six of potatoes at two dollars and fifty cents; two fifty-pound tubs of butter at thirty-five cents per pound; coffee, tea, sugar, and "preserves" to the tune of sixty dollars; and two hundred pounds corn-meal, four dollars....

Then there were a score of other little necessaries, amounting to near fifty dollars; in all, a bill of two hundred and seventy-four dollars.