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the following story was told me one evening during the first watch by a man in whom the officers and men had great confidence and who had no doubt been in better business than Qr Master I shipped in Baltimore and came to Rio with a load of flour and other American produce I was then a younker about 19 and was making my third voyage. there was several of us on board who were of the same age one morning we took the boat to go to Market pulled ashore landed the boys and as it was a damp drizzly morning we left only two keepers in the boat and stepped up to get a glass of grog when I came on shore I felt as if some thing would happen the day was dark damp and dreary such a day as one feels his spirits sink and has to splice the main Brace. However I got a good lignumvitae stick and swore if the Cholow press gang came about Me I would give them the hardest end. I was then as I have said 19 or 20 I was as stout as an ox and my young blood almost piped thro my veins {crossed out words]. I had scarcely emptied my glass and turned round to go down and relieve the others in the boat to allow them to come up and freshen the nip (there was 6 of us) when we were attacked by the Brazilian press gang there was about 20 of them and I tell you what we made them stand for it for our sticks and jack knives were severe tho not dangerous weapons. however after a hearty beating we were obliged to knock under and all of us boat keepers and all were put on board of the Don Pedro 64 [?] frigate, where we were forced to sign articles and in about 3 weeks we left on a cruise. She was a fine ship her battery was of the best and all 32s She was a fast sailer and was officered by english officers with a few Spanish senors. We had a crew of 650 men mostly cholows All the petty officers were either English or American, Brazil and Buenos Ayres were then at war there were many Baltimore privateers and men of war in her service. some of these ships held my old ship mates. there was one had done a great deal of damage to the Brazilian Commerce the Don Pedro had orders to hunt for her and take her. Now the 25th of May was a dull sailer. We could beat her under topsails so the order were to find her for if found she must certainly be taken. We were not very prudent about going to quarters as we were so superior to her