“I have told you before that you cannot be my servant solely; you must be the servant of the midshipmen’s berth.”
“Yes, with all my heart, provided that you pledge me your honour that I shall never be put to any other duty.”
I was astonished at this perseverance, and very honestly told him all the miseries of the situation for which he seemed so ambitious. They did not shake his resolution. I then left him, and spoke to Mr Farmer. “Let the fool enter,” was the laconic reply.
“But he will not enter but on the conditions I have mentioned, and his protections are too good to be violated.”
“Then I authorise you to make them. We are short of men.”
But Joshua would not enter; he required to be pressed; so I went on board his own merchant-ship, according to previous arrangement, and pressed him. He made no resistance and produced no documents; he only called the master of the ship, and the first and second officer, to witness that he was a pressed man, and then, taking his kit with him, he even cheerfully tripped down the side into the boat; and thus, for nearly an eventful year, I was the instrument of placing my evil genius near me.