"Ay, full-blooded Yankee--I knew you were New England, by your tricks." "New York is not in New England; nor do _we_ call a New York ship, a Yankee," put in Marble. "Ay, ay--if one were to believe all you mates from the t' other side, say, he would soon fancy that King George held his throne by virtue of a commission from President Washington." "President Washington is dead, Heaven bless him!" retorted Marble--"and if one were to believe half of what you English say, he would soon fancy that President Jefferson held his office as one of King George's waiting men." I made a sign for Marble to be silent, and intimated to the lieutenant I was ready to answer any further inquiries he wished to make. Sennit did not proceed, however, without giving a significant look at the mate, which to me, seemed to say, "I have pressed a mate in my time." "Well, sir, the Dawn, of New York," he continued, noting the name in his pocket-book--"How are you called yourself?" "The Dawn, of New York, Miles Wallingford, master." "Miles Wallingford, master. Where from, whither bound, and with what laden?" "From New York; bound to Hamburg; cargo sugars, coffee, and cochineal." "A very valuable cargo, sir," observed Mr. Sennit, a little drily. "I wish for your sake, it had been going to any other part of the world, as this last war has sent the French into that part of Germany, and Hamburg is suspected of being rather too much under Boney's influence." "And were we bound to Bordeaux, sir, what power have you to stop a neutral, at this distance at sea?" "If you put it on _power_, Mr. Wallingford, you depend on a crutch that will betray you. We have power enough to eat you, should that be necessary--I suppose you mean _right."_ "I shall not dispute with you, sir, about words." "Well, to prove to you that I am as amicably disposed as yourself, I will say no more on the subject. With your permission, I will now examine your papers; and to show you that I feel myself among friends, I will first send my own boat back to the Speedy." I was infinitely disgusted with this man's manner. It had the vulgar sort of witticism about even his air, that he so much affected in his speech; the whole being deformed by a species of sly malignancy, that rendered him as offensive as he seemed to me to be dangerous. I could not refuse to let a belligerent look at my papers, however, and went below to get them, while Sennit gave some private orders to his reefer, and sent him away to the frigate.