I carry my qualification to the Navy Office--the nature of it--the behaviour of the Secretary--Strap's concern for my absence--a battle betwixt him a blacksmith--the troublesome consequences of it--his harangue to me--his friend the schoolmaster recommends me to a French Apothecary, who entertains me as a journeyman I would most willingly have gone home to sleep, but was told by my companions, that we must deliver our letters of qualification at the Navy office, before one o'clock.

Accordingly, we went thither, and gave them to the secretary, who opened and read them, and I was mightily pleased to find myself qualified for second mate of a third-rate.

When he had stuck them all together on a file, one of our company asked if there were any vacancies; to which interrogation he answered "No!" Then I ventured to inquire if may ships were to be put in commission soon.
At which question he surveyed me with a look of ineffable contempt; and, pushing us out of his office, locked the door without deigning us another word.

We went down stairs, and conferred together on our expectations, when I understood that each of them had been recommended to one or other of the commissioners, and each of them promised the first vacancy that should fall; but that none of them relied solely upon that interest, without a present to the secretary, with whom some of the commissioners went snacks.

For which reason, each of them had provided a small purse; and I was asked what I proposed to give This was a vexatious question to me who (far from being in a capacity to gratify a ravenous secretary) had not wherewithal to purchase a dinner.