the channel of England, which had always been a free port, & a resort
for Smugglars.--I anchord in the roads about the suns setting, &
having a letter of introduction, from a friend in Cork, to a merchant
there; altho” the hour was an improper one, _the dusk of Eve_”, to
deliver a letter of introduction I took my boat & went on shore, being
an entire stranger, I had to make enquiries--but finally, in about an
hour, I found the Gen^{m.} to whom the letter was addressed,--he
rec^{d.} me with politeness, and read the letter--I apologised for
calling upon him, at so unseasonable an hour; he promptly replied, it
is fortunate for you, that you have thus done.--I am now Sir compelled
to act a part, which not only appears _uncivil_, but almost to an
insult. Viz, that you return immediately on board your ship, and leave
this port. He then, in a few words, told me that, the British
parlement, had recently, passed revenue laws, that affected that
Island; & that, two English cutters, had that day arrived, to inforce
the laws; & that I shou’d certainly have trouble, with my cargo, if I
was not off, before sun rise, the next morning.--I accordingly bid the
gentleman good bye, repaird to my boat, which was waiting for me at
the wharf, went on board the ship, & immediately got underway and at
sun rise, the next morn, I was out of sight of the Island of Geurnsay
up channell, on my way for the City of Hamburg.
Thus ended my deficulties of that voyage--I arrived safe in Hamburg,
found a good Market for my cargo, loaded my ship, & returned to
Boston, having made a good voyage to all concern’d.
My employers were so well pleased with the trade, I had opened in
Hamburg; that they planned another voyage immediately, and tho^{t.}
they you’d hardly afford me time to visit my family at the cape.
However, by promis’s of a short stay, I came to Brewster; saw my
family, and returned to Boston to fit out the ship, for another Voyage
in which, it was concluded, that it wou’d be for the Interest of the
Voyage, that on my arrival in H--^{g} I should land my Cargo, load the
ship with a return cargo, & send her home by my Mate, & remain in
Hamburg myself thro” the Winter, to sell the cargo then landed, and
prepare another for the ship, on her return to me in the
spring.--under the foregoing arrangement, I saild for Hamburg a 2^{d}
time; arrived their after a common passage, landed my Cargo, loaded
the ship, with Russia & Germain goods, and sent her for Boston, under
the comman^{d} of my mate, David Nickerson.
She sailed, the last of September, and by the middle of Nov^{r}, we were
compleatly bound in fetters of _Frost_, and, in that high Lattitude,
we had only about 7. hours day light in 24. but there was no lack of
_amusements_, to please the eye, tast, or mind, & I injoyed myself
very well, untill the last of Dec^{r.} when I received a letter, which
came overland, by way of Holland, from one of my employers, in which
it was stated in a, Postcrip, _Your wife has been very Sick, but, I
beleive, she_ _is better_. This unwellcome intiligence; the uncouth
manner, in which it was conveyed to me; and the great uncertainty of
hearing any thing more, untill the ship returned to me; put my mind
into a perplexing state of anxiety, which bid defiance to all
injoyment of life.
[Sidenote: Anxiety and Illness]
Within a few days, as I entered the coffee room, of the Hotel, one
morning, the servant said to me; there is an american Newspaper, which
arrived last evening, by way of London,--I took up the paper, and
first thing that attracted my notice, was my _Brothers death_--Thus
the mind, already bowed down with anxiety; was obliged to receive this
_heartrending_ addition to its already overcharged burden, but, our
heavenly Father, lays no more upon his children, than, He knows, they
can bear.--for in addition to my afflixtions then, I was attacted with
the _brain_ fever, and with such severity, that for 8 days, I was
unconcious of either pleasure, or pain.--but I was, finally, permitted
to recover, with the loss, only, of my full head of black hair; but I
got over that deficuty _pritty_ well, by substituting a Wig, and have
been obliged to wear one ever since, to keep my head warm.--but
notwithstanding all, I was supported thro” the winter, my business, by
the help of merchants, Brokers &c, went on well; and when the ship
arrived; about the 20^{th} of May, I was ready prepared for her; and
the news she bro^{t.} me, from my family, was a cordial to my
lasserated feelings.
As soon, as the Cargo which the ship bro^{t.} out, cou’d be sold; the
arrangements made, during the winter, were such, that we were soon
ready for returning to Boston,--I reach’d home in Aug^{t.}, having
been absent somthing over 14 months, found Mrs C. very feeble, but
convallessent.
I made one more voyage to Hamburg, in the Monsoon, & when I return’d
she was sold; which gave me an oppertunity of spending a few weeks at
home, with my beloved family.
But, it was not long, before I received a letter from M^{r.} J. Tidd,
who was one of my former owners in the Monsoon, requesting me to come
to Boston fourthwith, as there was a new Brig for sale, which he had
an idea of purchasing, and wished for my opinion &c &c.--I accordingly
went to Boston, & the Brig, Sally & Mary, was purchased, and another
Hamburg voyage was plann’d fourthwith.
[Illustration: Ship _Ten Brothers_.]
M^{r.} Tidd, had put on board a valuable cargo; on his own account &
risk, and ordered me for Hamburg; and I accordingly proceeded for the
river Elbe; it being in the summer season, I took the more direct
passage; of north about, so called, viz. between the Okney & Shetland
Islands, into the North sea, at the S E part of which, the river Elbe
comminces; Hamburg is 110 miles above--I had heretofore, always
obtained a Pilot, before I reach’d the entrance of the river--but now,
none appeared, and I saw, at anchor, in the mouth of the river, one
large ship, & 2 or 3 smaller vessells--it struck me, at once, that the
Elbe, was blockaded, but I had no alternative but to proceed on &
know, I accordingly, run on, untill within about a mile of the largest
ship, when I came to an anchor.--she immediately sent her boat on
board, for me & my papers,--I found the commander, a _haughty_,
_crabbed_, self _willed_, Scotchman.
[Sidenote: The Blockade]
He insisted upon it, that I knew of the blockade; and that I intended
a breach of it; of course, I was a good prize, & he shou’d send me to
England, very well! I had to submitt to his superior force; and I was
accordingly ordere’d for Yarmouth in England.
On my arrival there, my papers were sent to London, to the Kings
advocate for adjudication; but they were return^{d.} in 6 days, & I
was pronounced clear, to proceed to any port that was not blockad^{d}
and I put to sea the next morning.
As I cou’d not go to Hamburg, I concluded, that Copenhagen, would be,
the next _best_ market for my Cargo, and I accordingly, steered my
course for that port.--On my arrival there, I was advised, by a
freindly, Danish Merchant, to proceed to _Lubec_, one of the, _Hans
Towns_, of Germany, about 100 miles South of Copenhagen, on the great
Belt, so called, from which place, an inland canal, communicated with
Hamburg, where my Cargo cou’d readily be sent, in defiance of the
Blockade; and as my Cargo, was perticularly selected for the Hamburg
Market, this was a very important object with me.
I consequently proceeded for Lubec where I arrived in about 48 hours.,
and was told; that I displayed the first American flag; ever wafted
over their City.--on approaching the Town, an entire stranger, I
recolected, that, on my last voyage to Hamburg--a M^{r.} Smidth, of
the Firm, of Smidth & Plessing, of Lubec, had made a shipment of 100
peices of Duck by me, which I had sold, & made returns to them.
I was now glad to enquire them out, and avail myself of their services
in selling my cargo, & purchaseing another on my return &c &c.--I very
readily found them; and received from them all those kind attentions,
to me, and my business; so greatfull to a Stranger. A great part of my
cargo, went thro” the canel to Hamburg, and also, much of my return
cargo, came in the same way,--but I found a good Market; got quick
dispatch, and returned to Boston with an excellent voyage.
After discharging my cargo, in Boston, I visited my dear family, at
the cape; where I found an aditional pledge of affection, in a little
black-eye’d daughter, which we call’d Mary P, then 69 days old--it
being in the night, & no light in the house, I hawl’d her out of Bed,
and held her up to the window to look at her by moonlight.
[Sidenote: Orders in Council]
I was not permitted to remain, but a short time, in the enjoyment of
the family circle; before I receiv’d a letter, saying, that another
voyage was planned, & I must come forward. I accordingly, went on to
Boston, & found they had began loading the Brig, for a voyage to
Malaga.--the loading was soon compleated, and all necessary
preperations made; and I saild for the Medeterenaen., on the 15^{th.}
of Dec^{r.} 1807, & arrived at Malaga, Jan^{y} 11^{th.} 1808. On my
arrival, I was informed that the _celebrated British orders in
council_ went into fource, _there_; the 10^{th.} In^{t}, the day before
I arrived.--those orders, forbid american vessells, taken a return
cargo from any ports in Europe, under the penalty of being a prize, in
any English port.--in consequence of this, we knew, that _wines, &
fruit_, wou’d rapidly advance in price, in America; which made a
return cargo, very desirable.
The _American Consul_, with whoom I advised, thought, if I got quick
dispatch there wou’d be but little risk in my taking a return cargo;
that he wou’d obligate himself, to dispatch me in 10 days with a full
cargo of wine & fruit--and I finally concluded to take the risk.
[Sidenote: Detained at Gibraltar]
I accordingly proceeded in discharging my cargo, & in receiving on
board wine & fruit in return, & in 8 days was ready to sail--in order
to succeed in escaping an investigation, & probably, a capture, by the
English, I tho^{t} to wait for a strong easterly wind, and to improve
the night, to make a run through the _Gut of Gibraltar_, where lay the
greatest danger of capture, or detention,--I accordingly waited the
first Easterly wind & left Melaga, calculating to reach the rock of
Gibralter, about Dark, the same Eve”, which I did, but unfortunally as
I approach’d it, the wind died away, & by time I had pass’d it, it was
nearly calm--knowing that if it remained so thro the night, that
daylight would expose me to Fort & their cruizers, & that I should
surely be exposed to examination, & detention, I thought it advisable,
to proceed to Anchorage with what wind I had--and I immediately
haw[l]ed into the Bay, for the neutrial ground, but the wind being a
head, I had to make a tack under the Spanish shore, & while standing
over for the rock, was boarded by the boat of an English Fregate,
under the command of a midshipman, who took charge of me, under
pretence that I was bound into Algaziras--after we had come to anchor,
altho 12 ^{o}Clock at night, he insisted upon taken me on board the
Frigate with my papers--well I was conducted on board & before an
officer, who questioned me, I told him the truth, that I was from
Malago, bound to Boston, that I had come in there to evail myself of a
clearence from a British port, & a convoy thro the gut--well ‘said he,
a convoy will sail, the day after to morrow, & ordered the officer to
carry me on board my vessell again immediately. I went on shore the
next morn” & call^{d.} upon the American consel, to whom, I made know
my true situation--he told me, he thought there was but little chance
for me, as I was compleatly under the _Orders in Council_.--I left the
consul & in the street, fell in with an old acquaintan[ce], to him
also, I told my greivance--he advised me, as a last resort, & as my
situation was not generally known, to endevour to effect a clerance by
bribery; & he gave other advice & information upon that subject.
I accordingly went on board, got my papers, put a couple of ounces of
spanish gold into my pocket, & went on shore & directly to the office,
on the Key; I found only the _Principall_ in the office--I told him, I
commanded an American vessell was from Malaga, bound to Boston, and
had put in there, to obtain a clearance, & a convoy thro the Gut--well
‘said he, as you say, you have a cargo on board, there are some
serious questions to ask, previous to your obtaining a clearance.--I
know, I know Sir, but do not be too perticular, give me a clearance, &
at the same time, I laid on the counter before him, _two ounce peices
of gold_--well’ but said he, if I give you a clearance you have
another office to git signed at, well ‘said I, if you will give it,
there will be more deficulty--& as I spoke a gentleman came into the
office, to whom the first observed--this Captain was about going up to
your office with his clearance, will you be so kind as to save him the
trouble by signing it here, oh yes, said he cheerfully, accordinly, in
a few minuits my clearance was compleated, the fees of both offices
paid, & I was in the street, making a streight wake towards the
American consuls--when I entered his office, he, with a long face
said, I am glad to see you, but greatly regret your situation--I took
my clearance from my pocket, & held it before his eyes--_Good God_
said he, how did you git that--said I--ask me no questions, & I will
tell you no lies--
[Sidenote: Escapes from the Convoy]
The Signal Gun was fired, at sun-rise, the next morn” for the convoy
to weigh, & I was one of this first to move--for I was full of fear,
that some incident might _yet_ subject me to the _fatal_
investigation, I was therefore desirous to git out of their reach; a
large English merchant ship, showing a teir of guns, streched over for
the Barbary coast, & I followed her, under easy sail; _our convoy_, a
gun Brig, was not then under-way and in watching her motion, I
discovered a boat after us, full of men, roughing,[4] & sailing--I
immediately felt jelious, _they are after me_, I ordered sail
immediately put on, & in a very short time, the boat _give up_ & put
back for Gibranter--I then felt antious fearing the convoy might have
orders to bring me back; but I heard nothing more, parted from the
convoy off cape _Trafelgar_, & proceeded home.
I have mention’d a boat that was after me--sometime after I arrived
home, I fell in with a Cap^{t} Mills, whom I left in Malaga, in a Brig
belonging to Boston, & persueing the plan I had done, he saild from
Malaga the day after me, was taken into Gibrater the night before I
left--seeing me underweigh, without reflection, he observed there is
Cobb, why is he allowed to go--the boat was immediately dispatch’d
after me--but, by my vigilence in making sail, in season, & being
favoued with a good stiff breeze I was enable’d to keep clear of
them.--
I was favoured with a good passage, and arrived safe in Boston, a
subject of the most intent speculation; how it was managed to clear
out, a _cargo of Spanish goods_, from Gibralter, under the _British
orders in Council_.--But, I had made a good voyage for all concerned,
& return’d to my family.
I remained but a short time with my family, when I received a letter
from Mess^{r} Bixby, Vallintine & co, requesting that I would go on to
New York, & take charge of a Ship, belonging to them, called the
W^{m.} Tell, for a voyage to Europe--accordingly, I went to Boston,
and after receiving instructions from my Owners, I took the stage for
N. York and took charge of Ship, & fitted her, with all posible
dispatch for sea--I then proceeded to Alexandria in Virginia, where I
loaded the ship with Flour, and went for Cadiz, in Spain, where I sold
my Cargo, Ballasted the ship with stones, and returned to Norfolk in
Virginia--where I found letters from my Owners with provisions, from
Boston, for another voyage, and orders to go up to Alexandria &
load--but, as a part of my crew wished their discharge and others were
to be shipped to supply their places, a few days detention was
unavoidable--
[Sidenote: Mr. Madison’s Embargo]
While this process was in opperation, a most violent _storm_ came on,
& as I had discharg’d the most of the crew, I was on board the Ship,
assisting in secureing the ship to the Wharf, when M^{r.} Fisk, the
Merchant with whoom I advised, came down the wharf & told me, that he
had just received a _dispatch_ from M^{r.} Randolph, in Congress,
saying to him, _what you do, must be done quickly_ for the embargo
will be upon you, on Sunday at 10 A M.--it was now Fryday P. M, & a
violent storm, well,” said M^{r.} F, what can we do Cobb, why said I,
if we can hold the ship to the wharf, while it blows so hard, I shall
be glad--We can, however, see, where we can git the cargo, & if it is
fair to morrow much may be done--In fact much must be accomplish’d in
order to effect our object _viz. to cheat the Embargo_. We had about
100 Tons of stone Ballast on board, which must be landed, upward of
3000 bbls of Flour, to take in and stow away, provisions, wood & water
to take on board, a crew to ship, to clear at the custom H. and, to
git the ship to sea, before the embargo gits possession--and all this
must be done, between Saturday morn” at day light, & sunday morn at 10
^{[o:]}Clock, in the month of Dec^{r.}--We found, upon enquiry, that,
we cou’d have our supply of Flour from a block of stores, direct along
side of the Ship, & by giving ⅜^{th} of a dollar extra, we had
liberty, if stopped by the embargo, to return it--
Saturday morning, was fine weather I had given instructions to the
mates, to have purchases up, at each hatchway, the ship having
three--to discharge ballast, at the main hatchway, & to receive Flour
forward, & abaft, with two gangs of Stevidore in the hold--at about
Sunrise, I went up to _lazy corner_, so call’d, & pressed every Negro
into my service, that came upon the stand, & sent them on board the
ship, untill I thought there were as many, as could work.
I then visited the Sailors boarding houses, where I shipped my crew,
paid the advane to their landlords, & took their obligations to see
each sailor on board, at sun-rise the next morning.--It had now got to
be about 12 ^{o}Clock & the ship must be cleared at the Custom house at,
or before, one--I accordingly prepared a Manifest & went to the Custom
house to clear the Ship--M^{r.} Taylor, the collector, knowing my
situation, with the ship; _said_ why Cobb, what is the use of clearing
the ship, you cannot git away, the embargo will be here at 10 to
morrow morning, & even if you git your ship below, I shall have boats
out that will stop you, before you can git 3 leagus to sea. Said I,
“_M^{r} Taylor_, will you be so kind as to clear my Ship--Oh yes’ said
he, I cannot refuse, (untill the embargo arrives; & accordingly the
ship was cleared & I returned on board, & found all things going on
well.--finally--to shorten the Story--at 9 that evning, we had on
board 3050 Barrels of Flour, our long boat on board in the chocks,
water, wood, & provision on board & stowed, a pilot engage, & all in
readiness for Sea.
[Sidenote: A Feat of Loading]
The tide wou’d serve at 8 ^{[o:]}Clock on sunday morn, & we could not
go before, & at 10 the embargo was expected--well, “the morn” arrived,
the sailors were bro^{t.} on board by their Landlords, the pilot came
on board, & at 8 ^{o}Clock we started with a fair wind, down a crooked
nerrow river, but the wind dying, our progress was Slow, & when we
entered Hampton roads, it had got to be after 11 ^{o.}Clock, and nealy
calm--feeling anxious, I kept a sharp look out a stern, & with my
glass, I saw about 12, a boat comeing down, under the full opperation
of sails & oars--well,’ said I, to the mate, I fear, we are gone--but
very soon I saw, to appearance, a fresh breeze coming off from the
South shore, I saw that the boat, had already taken it--I then ordered
all the light sails set, ready to receive the breeze.--when it reached
us, the boat was so near, that with my glass I trace the features of
the men--but in 10 munuites after I took it the boat give up the chace
& turn’d back, and I went to sea without further molestation.--
By the pilot, I wrote my Owners, informing them of my running away
from the Embargo, & then proceeded on for Cadiz, & carraied to that
port the first news of the Embargo.
Flour was selling, on my arrival at $16.00 but in consequence of the
Embargo, & the war then rageing in that vicinity, the flour holders
had a meeting, & agreed to raise the price of Flour to $20.00.--&
finally, altho” I waited some time I obtained that price for my
Cargo.--
Soon after my arrival, I rec^{d.} a letter, by a vessell under
Sweedish colours, adviseing me to bring home money, providing there
was liberty to export it; & finding, upon enquiry, that was the case,
I immediately took out a license from the custom house, to export
$72,000, having funds here, of last voyage,--but before I got ready to
sail I heard of the repeal of the orders in Council, & allso, of the
_Milan_ & _Berlin_ decrees, & beleiving this would have a favourable
effect, to America, in our Exchanges, & finding I cou’d buy British
government Bills, at a great discount, I concluded to give up my
Licinse, & remitt my money to England,--(I mention this circomstance
to shew, how fortunate it was--as I was captured, on my return, if the
Monney had been on board, we shou’d have lost it.--The day before I
sailed I dine’d in a large party, at the american consul, & it being
mention’d that I was to sail the next day, I was congratulated, by a
British officer, upon the safety of our Flagg.--well” I tho^{t.} the
same, when at the same time, the _War_ between England & America was
then rageing.
[Sidenote: Spoken off the Grand Banks]