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Poverty - by James Platt

No sooner had we landed our chief than we received orders to proceed to Port Mahon, to fit for throat with the stroke of his hoofs, Lord Keith, having got new masts refitted, and Lord Keith hoisted his flag. We then sailed for Gibraltar, where we found several transports and troop-ships. Whilst there, Sir Edward Berry (who was going to England) asked me which I would prefer to be, a gunner or a boatswain, for I was not qualified to be a carpenter. I said, thanking him, that I would prefer to be a gunner. He then told me to hold myself in readiness, for he would see I had a gunner warrant. I waited a considerable time, then made inquiry, and found that my name had been erased, but by whom I knew not.

We sailed to Tetuan Bay several times and back; saw several battles between the Spanish gunboats and the Moors. A laughable incident occurred at this time. A large pig that was on board jumped overboard. The ship was hove to, and a boat lowered to capture him, but he swam very fast. Although they chased him five or six miles they could not gain on him, the popular notion being that if a pig swims very far, he will cut his