In this dilemma the shipping master offered to allow the men to "desert," upon my paying him fourteen dollars apiece, which was to be called "two weeks' board." I felt compelled in justice to my owners' interest to adopt this plan, and connive at the rascality by which an unjust law was evaded by those entrusted with its enforcement. The matter was arranged so as to do no violence to my conscience in the matter of oath and declaration of desertion. This shipping master, after a short term of service was able to buy a half interest in a large ship, and probably approves of the three-months' pay law. The previous Consul is said to have taken away eighty thousand dollars after a few years' residence. The owners of the ship I commanded are a firm on whom Dr. Jewell, in the above-mentioned work, has cast severe aspersions, and it is due to them to say that at the close of the voyage, while admitting that a less humane captain would have made a more economical voyage, they thoroughly approved of my principles, and said they did not mind losing a thousand dollars now and then in support of them. They however remarked that Capt. ----, who was a notorious sailor driver, sailed his ships cheaper than any other captain in their employ, as he never had a sailor remaining by the vessel in port. A few weeks after this conversation it happened that news was received that Capt. ----'s ship had put into Rio Janeiro with a mutinous crew, and some of the sailors had been shot by the captain. Considerable expense and delay to the voyage was caused by this, and the owners were overheard to say that Capt. ---- should never have another chance to put one of their ships into port in distress. They saw that the question of economy was not always against the "humane captain." The above facts, selected as samples from a multitude, illustrate the assertion that the three months' pay law is: _First_, An occasion for the exercise of much cruelty to the sailor, and often obliges him to have the disgrace of desertion attached to his name, in order to secure the release from his ship which his interests demand. _Secondly_, It obliges captains to resort to wrong or questionable acts to secure their owners' interests, and involves them in many unpleasant controversies. _Thirdly_, It is a heavy tax on the shipowner, and is one among several causes of the decay to our commerce. _Fourthly_, It furnishes great temptation to corrupt action on the part of consuls, and has, in too many cases, brought disgrace upon the flag they represent. What remedy is there? will be asked.