Fergus Macleod

Chapter I

On the evening of the 25th November, 1842, three men sat over their dessert, in a handsomely-furnished dining-room, at Haverstock Hill. The eldest, a man about fifty-three years of age, was addressed by his companions as Saunderson, or Mr Saunderson. His hair had once been reddish, but now assumed the rusty iron grey of advanced years. Although his eyes twinkled with fun and humour, his other features, especially the mouth, bespoke shrewdness, firmness, and energy. He who was seated at the other end of the table seemed to be about forty-seven. He had the high cheek bones after the facial characteristic of natives of mountainous countries, such as Gascony and the northern parts of Scotland. He was styled by the two others as Ugnish M'Donald or Mr M'Donald. This gentleman was hereditary chieftain of the island of Ugnish, in the Hebrides of Scotland.

He might have sat for a portrait of the Ancient Mariner described in the poem of Falconer's " Shipwreck " — I fear thee, ancient Mariner, I fear thy skinny hand ; For thou art long and lank and brown, As is the ribbed sea sand. The third, who numbered twenty-five summers, was seated at one side of the table. Making allowance for the disparity in years, he somewhat resembled M'Donald of Ugnish, to whom he was distantly related. His name was Fergus M'Leod. He was a native of the town of Tobermory in the island of Mull, one of the Hebrides or Western Islands of Scotland. This island is mentioned frequently by Sir Walter Scott in his " Lord of the Isles." In one stanza that poet says — The shores of Mull to the eastward lay, And Ulva dark, and Colonsay. When I add to what I have already said, that the dress and surroundings of our three friends gave them every appearance of respectability, I may, I believe, venture to introduce them to the reader.

Following the conversation they are about to engage in to its ending, will enable us to know a little more about them and their em ployments. M'Donald. — And what did you think of her, Saunderson 1 Saunderson. — Although not such a good judge in those matters as Fergus and you, to my eye she was too lean behind, and over thick in the waist. Fergus M'Leod. — Being thin below and wide in the waist, are in my opinion good faults. Saunderson. — When I looked in the eyes of her, I judged she was rather sharp. M'Donald. — -That is all the better, as you know it is a clipper we are on the look out for. Saunderson. — I did not look much into her out-fittings, but I observed her stays were composed of good material. Fergus. — You judge then from that, the rest of her furnishings might correspond. Saunderson. — The green and white becomes her very well, and the b'.ack ribbon shewing on those colours appeared to me to be in good taste.

M'Donald.-— Wn shall all go and see her to-morrow. Saunderson. — I believe from what I saw of her breast what-do-you call-'em's, that her frame is sound. Fergus. — I do not see what you evidently indicate by your express ion has to do with her ribs. Saunderson. — She looked very well in the dock, I can tell you, with her mast heads and yards painted white. M'Donald. — What do they call her, Saunderson ? Saunderson. — The "Amphitrite." Fergus.— And where is the Yankee who has the selling of her to be found ? Saunderson.— He goes to the docks, he told me, every day at eight, and stays there till mid-day. M'Donald. — She is lying in the London Dock, isn't she ? Saunderson.— Yes, we can get as far as the bank by the omnibus, which passes down every morning as we finish breakfast ; and from there we can walk, or take a cab to the dock gates.

We must keep up our acquaintance with the Yankee, whether we purchase or not. He seems to me to be a first rate fellow ; although he appears to wish to let every one know that he holds some peculiar ideas on religious matters. Fergus. — But how can he bring that out, as you were in his com pany for but a short time. Saunderson. — I spent quite two hours with him on board the brig and had some refreshment with him in the cabin. He showed me a photograph of his uncle, the late owner of the vessel ; who is now dead. He seems to revere his memory greatly, principally on account of the religious character which he bore. M' Donald. — You excite my curiosity ; but take care that all this may not be got up to amuse us, while he watches for a good opportunity of the better selling of his ship to us.

Fergus. — In that supposition let us be doubly on our guard, and take care to examine the brig well, before concluding a bargain with him. M'Donald. — We must not close with him until we have the car penter who did the work on the " Endymion " with us, and two of his men provided with augers, to bore everywhere, so that we may know whether all the framing be sound or not. Saunderson. — Get a sheet of paper, Fergus, and take a list of all we may require to look to when we examine her. It is a good thing always to do that before examining property of any kind, with the view of purchase or lease. You may have ships, houses or lands to purchase or lease some day on your own account. M'Leod having procured writing materials accordingly, while con tinuing to converse with his friends on the subject in hand, went on to take his notes.

Before he began M'Donald requested him to ring for tea, it being, as Le remarked, near bedtime. Next morning, as had been arranged, our trio mounted the omnibus as it passed down the hill. The two older men wore great coats, as the air was becoming sharp in the morning owing to the lateness of the season. On alighting at the Bank, they walked to the London Dock, where they found Captain Peabody on board the "Amphitrite." The first salutations over, Peabody remarked that the air was beginning to feel quite sharp of a morning. " That's so," said the Captain of the brig, " but it is astonish ing what drainage, the clearing of the forests and cultivation have done to ameliorate the climate of our Eastern States. Saunderson. — So I hare heard. You appear to have everything in first rate order on board, Captain Peabody.

Peabody. — Had it been my inclination since I commanded the " Amphitrite " to have it otherwise, the late owner, who always sailed with us, should not have permitted such slackness. Councillor Cameleye was a man who did everything on principle. M'Donald. — He used the brig as a yacht, did he not 1 Peabody. — Yes; and you see, being a business man, and naturally attached to his former career, when he could do so to advantage and when such did not interfere with his other arrangements, he loaded cargo, if it could be had of a description suitable for a vessel of this class. Saunderson. — It must have been an agreeable situation you held in your uncle's employment, and a pleasure to sail with a man of the stamp you have described him to have been of. Peabody. — His religious habits tended to make him what I may justly term a model man.

I admit that us young fellows are none the worse of being among our seniors, when they are men like my late uncle. M'Donald. — You hear that, Fergus. Fergus. — But all old gentlemen are not like the late Councillor Cameleye. I do not wish to make an idle play upon words, Captain Peabody, in seeming to use the name of a man whose memory I begin sincerely to revere ; but it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Peabody (looking at Saunderson and M'Donald). — Your young friend is hitting you hard, gentlemen. M'Donald. — You are quite mistaken, Captain Peabody. I am but a poor ship captain like yourself, with this difference that I have no fine brig like the " Amphitrite " to dispose of. Peabody. — No ; but you have what is better, plenty of money to purchase one.

Saunderson. — The purchaser of the "Amphitrite," Captain Peabody, deals with you as a principal ; is it not so ? Peabody. — Precisely so. My late uncle, I am proud to be able to say, dealt liberally with me in his will. Among other properties, the ship I had the honour to command as his yacht fell to my lot. M'Donald. — You will then, I have no doubt, give us every facility for inspecting her. Peabody. — Most certainly. M'Donald. — It may be only a matter of form ; but go as high as the top, Fergus, and take a look round. While Fergus was aloft, M'Donald examined everything he could see, from the deck, or on them, carefully. Looking in Captain Pea body's face, he said — " You are able to assure Mr Saunderson and me that none of the smaller spars are sprung." Peabody. — I can pass my word for that ; but if you choose you can employ a rigger and have him sent down.

You can then examine them at your leisure on the dock side. Saunderson. — That will not be necessary. Fergus M'Leod, on reaching the deck again, said — "' I have examined everything on both masts as high as the crosstrees, and find all sound. I see, Captain Peabody, that your topmast rigging is new." Peabody (having the sale of the brig in view). — I aimed in having her ready for sea. However, I must tell you a second suit of sails will be required. Jf the vessel had been more of a carrier than a clipper, I can assure you I should not have parted with her. Saunderson. — As you may guess by this time, we are on the look out for a ship of this size, to be used exactly in the same way as your late uncle did, namely — more as a yacht than as a trader. We shall therefore go on to inspect your vessel more fully, with the view of purchasing, if she may be in every way as I take her to be.

Fergus. — I see Mr Jonston, the rigger, has his men at work on the ship in the next berth to us. I shall ask him, if you please, to allow one of them to go to Mr Scantling's building yard to see if his son or he could come over this way with two carpenters and their tools. M'Donald. — You had better write a note to Mr Scantling, to be opened by his son should he not be at the building yard when our messenger gets there. Peabody. — Accompany me to the cabin, and I shall supply you with writing materials. After M'Leod had written the note, he went on board the ship lying near the " Amphitrite," and got Mr Jonston to send a man with it to the master builder. This done, our friends landed on the dock side, and had a good look at the general appearance of the ship which they thought of purchasing.

All were pleased at her graceful lines, and with the look of her masts and rigging. The brig was painted green, with white sides, and the way in which gilding and black paint had been applied to relieve the sameness of the first-named colours, spoke highly for the good taste of Captain Peabody. Upon our going on board again, that gentleman said : — ■" I know Mr Jonston slightly, and shall, for my own satisfaction, ask him to send one of his men aloft to see that everything is sound and in its place.' Saunderson. — -As you please, Captain Peabody. This was then done at, Peabody's request, the rigger's man going up as high as the royal yards, first forward, and afterwards on the main mast. While he stood on the royal yards, Captain Peabody and Fergus mast-headed them, so that even the trucks could be examined at leisure.

We all felt pleased with Captain Peabody, when the man, on coming down, said to us : — " Everything is sound, and in good order, even the sheaves in the trucks run like wheels." By this time the younger Mr Scantling had arrived from the yard, with two carpenters bearing the necessary tools for the inspection of the wood-work. A minute survey, and boring with augers, and chip ping with axes and chisels, was made on deck, in the hold, and from tbe dock side. Young Mr Scantling then remarked — " So far as I can judge here, I am well satisfied, but before certifying the ship as perfectly sound I should require to have her docked. I can have that done for you, Mr Saunderson, at the lowest possible expense, and take charge of having her classed at Lloyd's afterwards." Saunderson, after a short consultation with M'Donald, said to Peabody — "We shall therefore treat with you on Mr Scantling's report ; in the mean time, name your price."

Peabody. — I know what the ship is worth, as I had her docked before we left New York. You have a new set of sails with her, at least they were so when we sailed from America a few weeks ago. I ask fifteen pounds a ton for the brig, including all stores. Her register is one hundred and fifty, that makes two thousand, two hundred and fifty pounds sterling. After another short consultation together, my seniors said they should give that for the vessel, if, as they doubted not, the carpenter's report proved favourable. The " Amphitrite " was accordingly docked and inspected next day. Captain Peabody pointed out that the brig had been newly sheathed with copper before sailing from New York. When she was in dock we found that with the exception of a few hours' work with water and scrubbing brushes on the sheating, there was absolutely nothing required to be done on the hull to make her ready for a voyage to any part of the world.

The bargain was there fore duly concluded, and the money paid to Captain Peabody. This managed, I, as the chief mate appointed by Messrs Saunderson and M'Donald, took charge of their new purchase, and in that capacity, of course, spent the greater part of my time at the docks attending to my duties. Mr M'Donald, who was noted as an astronomer and a first-class authority in the science of navigation, besides knowing everything connected with the business of shipping, and having been accustomed for many years to sail his own yacht, took the command of the " Amphitrite." Peabody had lodgings in the Minories. He said the only fault he could find with them was that he was disturbed during the night by the noise of heavy waggons rattling along on the rough paving of the street. When empty he remarked that their drivers drove them at full speed, and that he could get no sleep after about two in the morning.

One forenoon about eleven, Saunderson, M'Donald and I, in returning from the dock, called upon him. The servant told us that he had passed a very restless night, and that he was still in bed. His landlady, who slept in the bedroom next to his, said that she had heard him calling out loudly in his sleep. We had intended to chaff him about his laziness in lying so long in bed, but what the girl said caused us to change our minds. She opening the door said—" You had better go in and see him." When Peabody heard the door open he sat up in bed and quite terrified us by his wild look. His hair stood on end and his eyes FERGUS MA CL E OD. seemed ready to start out of his head. I went to the bedside and took his hand, which was icy cold, saying — " What is the matter, old fellow, you appear to be ill."

The answer which he gave me was — " I am better now, but I feel quite shaken ; and what is more, I am completely shaken in the belief of the religion which my honoured uncle held when in life, and which for many years past has been the mainstay of my existence. I begin now to doubt everything, both in this world and the next." Saunderson stopped him running on thus, by ordering the servant to bring to the room adjoining a cold roast of beef we had observed in the bar parlour in peeping through it on our way up stairs, some bread and two bottles of wine, saying dryly that after Peabody had dressed and partaken of some luncheon with us, we should be glad to hear all he had to say. Old Saunderson then threw all the blankets from the bed on to the floor, and proceeded in a most dexterous manner to assist our poor friend to dress, saying, We are all dying to know what you have got to tell us, and are besides most awfully hungry.

While you were spending your morning in bed, we have been out in the cold. Peabody, calmed by the moral influence which our friend seemed to understand how to exert, said no more, until we had all refreshed ourselves well in the next room, except that he ejaculated several times during the repast: — "Well I have had a most fearful dream." M'Donald replied to him with an air of superstition : — " Dreams often mean something, Peabody. We shall soon be able to listen to you." As the old Captain of the " Amphitrite " had not had any breakfast, we encouraged him to eat and drink well. This had the effect of calming the state of excitement he was labouring under. As all present smoked excepting myself, we were soon enveloped by a dense cloud from the smoke of the cigars which had been lighted as soon as the cloth was removed.

From its midst, Mr Saunderson broke silence by asking Peabody : — "To what religion or sect did your late uncle attach himself 1 " " The sect known as shakers," was the reply, Saunderson. — And you were led to adopt his views. Peabody. — Most firmly, but from what I saw last night my faith in their doctrine is terribly shaken. "Tell your story then, and our advice shall be given freely;" said M'Donald with a serious air. " In the first place, let us have a brief history of the late lamented Councillor Cameleye, if such may be necessary to a better understanding of the dream." "That, and also the part I had in his affairs before he was taken away. are indispensable to enable me to have that counsel from you all which from the doubts tilling my mind I trust you may not withhold." We all expressed our willingness to listen to the tale of his troubles, and to give all the advice in our power. Captain Peabody accordingly began his narrative, as follows.

Chapter II

My maternal uncle, the late Councillor Cameleye, was for a long time the leading pawn-broker in New York. In religion he was a member of the Wesleyan body, and was considered one of its most saintly ornaments. Some of the other members of that body, who pretended to rival my uncle in influence, and who ought to have been proud to boast in having such a shining light in their midst, openly accused him of lending himself to fraudulent methods of acquiring wealth. My uncle, whose feelings were greatly hurt at such conduct on the part of his co religionist, cut the Wesleyan Church, and joined the congregation of Shakers. Shortly after uniting himself to that religious body, he formed an intimate acquaintance with one of its members, a Mr Selby. The wife of that gentleman had died before he joined the sect, leaving an only daughter.

My uncle, soon after he became intimate with Selby, sold his pawn-broking business, the books of which showed immense yearly profits, to the man who, when he was with the Wesleyans, had been loudest in impeaching him. Selby and my uncle, both already rich men, now commenced in partnership an extensive business as shipping agents and exporting merchants. As they understood the general trade of New York thoroughly, and were successful in securing the services of good men under them, no other firm in New York did a better business than they. I must now explain that the congregation of Shakers in New York, while numbering among its members a few wealthy men such as Selby and Cameleye, is mainly composed of needy individuals, some of them possessing a good education but exceedingly shrewd and grasping.

As each local synod in the Shakers forms its own rules, that of New v FERGUS MA C LEOD. York passed a resolution proclaiming what they termed tithes of all. They quoted the well-known precedent of Melchisedec, and registered their resolution as a religious dogma. Some of those individuals were office-bearers in the church, and had the management of its funds. They openly proclaimed their right to a tenth part of the entire fortunes of all members. Cameleye and Selby, however, added the rider to the clause for their own private guidance — "When they can get it ;" and made such statements to the heads of the church as shewed plainly that they intended to give just as much as they chose, and no more. About four years ago Mr Selby died, leaving the whole of his fortune to his daughter, and appointing his partner as her sole admin istrator and guardian.

The leading men among the Shakers now fancying Ruth Selby to be in an unprotected position, made estimates of her fortune, and sent in a formidable bill for tithes to Cameleye. In preferring this exorbit ant claim, they took no notice of Ruth. Strange to say, Cameleye while dealing with the claim made on the fortune of his ward, as he had done with the others made for tithes on his own, joined with the leading Shakers, although in a covert manner, in persecuting her. His conduct towards her at this period seemed so marked by duplicity and unkindness that she consulted me how to act. I had been since my conversion an active and prominent member among the Shakers. Since the death of Mr Selby T had been intrusted with affairs of importance by my uncle Cameleye, and had been more especially in religious matters entirely under his guidance, I may say acting by his inspiration.

When Mr Selby died, Cameleye wound up the business and retired from active life. He funded his own wealth and the fortune of Ruth Selby in a wise and remunerative manner. This brings us to the beginning of 1810, when the keel of the " Amphitrite" was laid down in the building yard of Simson and Com pany of New York. I had been at sea chiefly in my uncle's employment since my boy hood, and was named by him as her commander. Ruth Selby was then sixteen years of age. My uncle intrusted me to see her safely to school every day, and to bring her home in the evening. Although she was allowed to complete the excellent education which she began in her father's lifetime, I must say that otherwise she was very badly treated, among other things being obliged to wear long blue pinafores quite unfit for a girl of her age to appear in.

The schoolmistress, her companions and I, all took her part against such treatment. From policy the schoolmistress and I had of course to hide our sentiment on this subject from Mr Cameleye and his friends ; but we, as also Ruth herself, were in secret rebellion against their strange conduct towards her. Among other acts of tyranny her guardian abused his powers by sending her every morning with a basket and a tin can to purchase the vegetables and milk for the house. My uncle's housekeeper was ex ceedingly irate at her young lady being used in such a way. As she was an old person of good sense, I consulted with her as to how Ruth should behave about it. The woman was a member of the Episco palian Church, and advised that Ruth should attend service every morning at the chapel close by, as she was on her way home from the market, taking her basket and milk can into the church with her.

Ruth acted upon this advice, her guardian knowing nothing of when she left for the market in the morning, nor yet the hour at which she entered the house on her return from it. The ladies who attended the morning service at the Episcopalian Church soon began, as the housekeeper probably had foreseen, to take a lively interest in the devout servant maid, as they took Ruth to be. The Shakers at length discovered how Ruth spent her mornings when returning from the market, and punished her by allotting a seat in their meeting house for her use apart from the rest of the women. She and I holding that the tenets of the Shakers could alone conduct us to salvation, determined that no amount of ill treatment from the members of that creed should drive us from its bosom. We considered that our safety in a future state should not be imperilled by worldly considerations or prejudices.

Firm, therefore, in our principle, although having much reason to doubt the sincerity of some of those who professed the same ones, we walked arm in arm to and from the meeting-house,. setting the hypocrites who made their religion but a pretext for the advancement of their personal interests completely at defiance. Mrs Eldridge, the housekeeper, Ruth and I, rejoiced at the blind ness of those men who led the Shakers congregation, foreseeing that in some way their method of proceeding should soon turn out for our benefit. When the " Amphitrite " was launched and got ready for sea, Mr Cameleye loaded a cargo for Bermuda on his own account. The cargo was composed of goods carefully selected by my uncle, as most suitable for the Bermuda market. Before our arrival, their sale was insured by a cousin of Mr Cameleye's, who resided at Bermuda, carrying on there the business of general agent.

This gentleman had formerly been the Honourable Timotheus Gregory, of Boston, Masachusetts, a leading member of the Tamany Ring and an intimate friend of the celebrated Boss Tweed. Gregory having been blamed for some of the doubtful transactions of that great man, was now under a cloud. In addition to the ties of blood relationship, Cameleye and Gregory had good reasons for not attempting anything approaching to double dealing in their transactions with one another. As Cameleye required a long period of repose after the fatigue of his active career, and as I wished for nothing more than to keep him company and to converse about our future in another world and our prospects in this one, we stayed at Bermuda for nearly six months. We had the brig's long boat fitted out as a little yacht, and we explored the passages dividing the beautiful islands of the Bermuda group.

My uncle always wore the same old brown coat, grey tweed trousers, and broad trimmed felt hat, as you may see hanging up in the after cabin of the brig, or clothing of a pattern exactly similar. The wealthy American, as the people of Bermuda styled him, was seen at every picnic and bath, and the ladies thought his old brown coat looked remarkably well. No sooner had her gaardian left New York, than Ruth Selby commenced to act for her own interests in the most decided way possible. While holding to the doctrines of the Shakers, in principle, she set its leading men openly at defiance. She attended the Shaker meeting house when she chose, taking the seat offered to her. She also went to the Episcopalian Church with Mrs Eldridge when she thought proper In the fashionable quarter of New York, where Mr Selby and Mr Cameleye had all along resided, of course the strange treatment of such a wealthy heiress was a favourite topic of conversation.

After we had sailed for Bermuda, the families of her school com panions, and other people of position, shewed her a great deal of attention. The confidence of old Mrs Eldridge was widely sought for. As she afterwards told me, neither Councillor Cameleye nor his brother Shakers could tie her tongue. FEE G US MA C L E O D. 15 Before the " Amphitrite" sailed, Ruth and I had solemnly agreed that no persecution should drive us from the tenets of the Shakers, unless upon consultation together on the subject we saw good reasons for leaving that body. In that event, we were after due consideration both of us to leave them for good and all, and to join the Episcopalian or other form of religion, as we should see for the best. As may be understood, from that which I have already said, the cargo of the brig was disposed of to the best advantage by Gregory.