1791-12-30 (static/transcriptions/1791/12/245.jpg)

(181.

(This was before Hopkins went out. Middleditch had been several times that day rubbing his firelock)

Middleditch was cleaning his firelock very lazily said to Cullen, “Middleditch is giving a dockyard stroke” (which is a common phrase among us for lazy work) and Cullen said – Yes, he will not deceive us.
On the same day, before the dispute, I had conversaion with the prisoner: I am intimately acquainted with him, having been five years in the same service with him, & having been his messmate though I was not so then. When I conversed with him on that day, he sometimes talked reasonably & sometimes very foolishly. I disswaded him from drunking liquor since, if he spent his money he would not get victuals. On, said he, I shall eat no more here, the next time I eat will be in the upper regions. This was said about twelve o’clock. I first