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evening I knew I would have some trouble in getting substitutes. Now the dockmaster began to shout, 'Come along with the steamer; do you want to get out? for I am going to close the gates.' The chief officer came along and said, 'I have no one to haul in the ropes, sir.' The second officer from aft reported the same state of affairs in that quarter. The result was that the ship went into the river, sailors and firemen, those who had turned up, 'whole seas over,' not knowing what they were doing, and the ship had to bring up in the river to give them a chance to sleep off the drink, while the officers with their gold buttons and brass bands, who had been busy from 7 a.m., had to work all night to clear up the decks. Three a.m. (next morning) turned up the hands, four sailors out of six that signed on were on board, three middling fit for work, the other said, 'I'll be dd if I turn too, I'm too tired.' So we started away, barometer falling rapidly, and every indication of a heavy gale coming on, with the firemen and sailors not at all Al. Gale increased, and we had to anchor in Moelfra Bay, and after gale moderated proceeded on our voyage to Penarth, where we were bound for bunkers. The sailor already referred to, still in his bunk, said he was too ill to work, but immediately on arrival he jumped up with alacrity, seized his bag, slung it ashore, and deserted, snapping his fingers at us, and saying he had had a good passage to a place where wages were higher. Now, sir, you can guess what state my officers were in after having been two days and three nights constantly on the go without having had their clothes off for nearly all the time, they having had to do the work of the ship, clearing decks, securing movables, getting ready for bunkering, while Jack sits down, too ill to work, poor fellow, watching him—the officer—do his work. What can one do to make them obey orders? Fine them? They have no money. Prosecute them?. The magistrates invariably decide in their favour, and the master is looked upon as something inhuman and unnatural. At Penarth we had to ship new men to fill up the gaps. A man signs on, gets a half month's advance note, and he never turns up. Have to get another in his place. He doesn't turn up, and after a day of complete worry we manage to get bunkered, ready for sea and start away. At the last moment the chief engineer reports fireman who had been away without leave incapable of working, as he fell and hurt himself when on shore. Board of Trade officer wants to know what I am going to do with him. 'Send him to the hospital' he suggests, so I make out an order for his admission, and then the Board of Trade officer wants to know if T am going to pay him off, saying he has three or four days' pay due to him. Doeckmaster shouts, 'Now what are you going to do with that steamer? Are you going out or are you going to stayin?' I tell the Board of Trade officer the man was on shore without leave, and against orders, and by the Articles he forfeits any sum not exceeding two weeks' pay. He jumps on shore as the ship is moving through the locks, and replies 'Very well, captain, you need not be surprised if you get into trouble.' At last we are outside the dock, blowing, and dirty weather from S.S.E., muster all the crew, finding them fairly,
