In his second voyage, while lying in the harbor of Gibraltar, he witnessed one of the almost every-day dangers to which American sailors of that time were exposed: "While we were lying in this port, one morning at daylight we heard firing at a distance.

I took a spy-glass, and from aloft could clearly see three gunboats engaged with a large ship.

It was a fine, clear morning, with scarcely wind enough to ruffle the glass-like surface of the water.

During the first hour or two of this engagement the gunboats had an immense advantage; being propelled both by sails and oars, they were enabled to choose their own position.

While the ship lay becalmed and unmanageable they poured grape and canister shot into her stern and bows like hailstones.