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INTRODUCTION. When that fleet was dismantled which, pending the differences between Great Britain and Russia relative to the possession of Oczakow, had been kept at Spithead during the summer of 1791> the ship to which I belonged, among others, was paid off. With out professional employment, young,* and not inclined to be in active, I turned over in my own mind in what way my time could be completely, and, at the same time, usefully employed. Any thing I thought better than lounging about the capital. I had a great wish to be acquainted with both our northern and southern whale fisheries, and therefore intended to go out, as a passenger, in some ship employed in those trades, in order to make myself master of the subject. The season was gone by for the former; I was therefore confined to the latter; and went, in consequence, to a house at Paul’s Wharf, which owned a great number of ships in the southern whale fishery; and in quiring for the gentleman of the house, to whom I was totally unknown; “ Sir,” said I, “ I understand that you have several “ vessels employed in the southern fishery ?” “ Yes, Sir,” he replied. “ A young friend of mine,” I continued, “ wishes very “ much to see your mode of killing the fish, cutting them up, * At that time twenty-five, b 2