237
Lawrence, the Marine Magistrate, had forwarded to him, on behalf of Messrs Deacon Looker and Deacon a paper requesting my signature, authorizing them to sell as much of my effects as would settle their account, the amount of which was not stated. This (acting under advice) I refused to do.
On the completion of my sentence on May 9th I went direct to the Shipping Office to report myself to the Shipping Master. This official taking care to have no person in the office but ourselves again greeted me with a volley of abuse, for having dared to employ a Solicitor, and for having told the Magistrate that his (the Shipping Master's) statements to having me removed from the Ship, Shipping Office was false. He taunted me with the fact that "He and the Chief Officer had succeeded in getting me imprisoned for 70 days; and adding that he would show me how humble he could make me".
He refused to allow me to have access to my effects on that day to obtain a shift of clothing, declaring it was his intention to sell them to pay my Solicitors. I had already arranged with a gentleman for the settlement of this account.
He informed me that notwithstanding our agreement the Captain had made no provision for either my support nor my passage to England; and that it was his, the Shipping Master's, intention to put me into the Sailors' Home to board at the expense of the Board of Trade until he could find me a ship to sign in. I refused to sign in any ship not having signed clear of the "Scotia".
On Tuesday May 10th, I was allowed to have access to my property at noon. A considerable quantity of this was missing, tools, clothes, and other property. On reporting