182
13. III:30. I attempted to cross the river with Antoine in a small canoe; with a view
to swim across it to come back— He took a boat in which we had crossed
it last Summer without accident— The boat was at the shore near Van
Ness’s Poplars but in crossing the Tiber to the point, my Son John who was with us thought the boat
dangerous, and instead of going with us went and undressed at the rock,
to swim and meet us midway of the river as we should be returning— I
thought the boat safe enough; or rather persisted carelessly in going
without due attention to its condition— Gave my watch to my Son. Made a
bundle of my coat and waistcoat, to take in the boat with me. Put off my
shoes, and was paddled by Antoine, who had stripped himself entirely
naked— Before we had got half across the river the boat had leaked
itself half full, and then we found there was nothing on board to scoop
up the water and throw it over. Just at that critical moment a fresh
breeze from the Northwest blew down the river as from the nose of a
bellows. In five minutes time it made a little tempest, and set the boat
to dancing till the river came in at the sides. I jumped over-board, and
Antoine did the same; and lost hold of the boat, which filled with water
and drifted away— We were as near as possible to the middle of the
river, and swam to the opposite shore. Antoine who was naked reached it
with little difficulty— I had much more, and while struggling for life;
and gasping for breath had ample leisure to reflect upon my own
discretion— My principal difficulty was in the loose Sleeves of my
shirt, which filled with water, and hung like two 56 lb weights upon my
arms— I had also my hat, which I soon gave however to Antoine— After
reaching the shore I took off my shirt and pantaloons—wrung them out,
and gave them to Antoine to go and look out for our clothes, or for a
person to send to the house for others, and for the carriage to come and
fetch me— Soon after he had gone, my Son John joined me having swum
wholly across the river expecting to meet us returning with the boat—
Antoine crossed the bridge; sent a man to my house for the carriage,
made some search for the drifted boat and bundles, and found his own hat
with his shirt and bracers in it, and one of my shoes. He also brought
over the bridge my Son’s Cloathes with my watch and umbrella, which I
had left with him— While Antoine was gone, John and I were wading and
swimming up and down on the other shore, or sitting naked basking on the
bank, at the Margin of the river— John walked over the
bridge
183bridge home. The Carriage came and took me and
Antoine home, half-dressed. I lost an old Summer coat, white waistcoat,
two napkins, two white handkerchiefs, and one shoe. Antoine lost his
watch, jacket, waistcoat, pantaloons and shoes— The boat was also lost—
By the mercy of God our lives were spared; and no injury befell our
persons. We reached home about a quarter before nine, having been out
nearly five hours. I had been about three hours in the water, but
suffered no inconvenience from it— This incident gave me a humiliating
lesson, and solemn warning not to trifle with danger— The reasons upon
which I justify to myself my daily swimming in the river did not apply
to this adventure. It is neither necessary for my health, nor even for
pleasure that I should swim across the river; and having once swum
across it, I could not even want it as an experiment of practicability—
Among my motives for swimming that of shewing what I can do, must be
discarded as spurious, and I must strictly confine myself to the
purposes of health, exercise, and salutary labour.
symbols 23 Mutilation symbols Vows
symbols 24 Divorce, pledges, manstealing,
Justice, Charity.
Brown— Genl. I sent for him. Conversed with him on the
proceedings of a Court-martial upon a soldier named Allison, whom they sentenced to be
shot for desertion twice— I told the Genl
that I could not approve this sentence— Death was too severe a
punishment for desertion in time of Peace— This was my own opinion, and
I believed so decidedly that of the Nation, that an execution for this
offence would greatly shock the public feeling. Genl. Brown said there was no example of a
capital punishment for desertion in time of peace. He complained that
there was no adequate punishment for this offence, and lamented the
abolition of stripes— He said that he had laboured earnestly to raise
the moral character of the army to which end he believed a most
efficacious expedient would be a judicious and impartial system of
promotion from the ranks to subaltern office, and an increase of the pay
of non-commissioned officers— He said also he had directed to recruit
the army only from native Citizens of the Union; the foreigners being
always the most troublesome and vicious part of the army.
I directed a pardon, conditional to issue for Bryant Johnson.
Mary Buchanan came to pass some
time with us.
Johnson Hellen convalescent
symbols
