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Sunday April 12th 1857 Buenos Ayres.
Heard of an Insurrection at Rosario, and
we were ordered to prepare for going up the
River immediately we had a sufficient supply
of Coals. At 9.30 Commdr came off
when we went to Divisions, inspected ship
and performed Divine Service. Old Ross on
shore without leave, and wanted by the
Commander. At eleven the Commdr went on
shore in search of Paymaster, who was soon found
and sent off but in a very drunken state. In
the afternoon a party of ladies and gentlemen
came on board to see old Ross, who they found
asleep in the skylight: they did not remain
long on board, after which Ross got very drunk
and troublesome, going into my cabin and
turning every thing upsidedown and I was
obliged to put him out by force - Afterwards
I went on deck to smoke and on going into the
gun room found the old fool cruizing about with
my Pocked hat on, which I removed & hammered
it about his face & head, and then laid hold of
him by the throat, and knocked his head against
the Bulkhead till I made his nose bleed, after which
he was more quiet, but went on drinking so
long, that he mistook his own cabin and turned
in to Dr Martins, who fortunately was on shore: in
his mania, he came into my cabin just as I was
going to turn in; and on opening my door, without
knocking, I shoved my candle in his face, which
rather astonished his nervous system & then turned in.