2. See Journal of H.M. Sloop Kingsfisher, September 29, 1775; also Barney, ed., Life of Joshua Barney, 27-28, which reads:
When at last he landed, and saw and heard on every hand the din of preparation, and listened to the groups of old and young as they recounted at corners and public places the story of his country's wrongs, and the long catalogue of British tyranny and injustice, his heart grew big, his whole frame dilated ー he felt himself already a Commodore! ー and glowing with the pride of this anticipated promotion, he suddenly, and unannounced, presented himself in the counting-house of the plain, plodding, sour old merchant, who owned 'the good ship Sidney,' ー The old gentleman raised his eyes from the leger (the mysterious pages of which he was intently studying,) and fixed them with an inquisitive stare upon the young intruder. ー 'Who are you, sir?' at length escaped from him, in a tone of surly impatience. ー 'I am Joshua Barney, master of your ship, just arrived!' ー 'Master of my ship, are you, sir? and how dare you, sir, an apprentice boy, presume to take command of a ship of mine?' ー The 'apprentice boy' turned upon him a look of calm disdain, and throwing upon the desk before him the ship's papers and other documents of the voyage which he had brought in his hand ー 'Read these!' said he, and without further reply walked to the window, where he amused himself in looking at the various individuals that passed to and fro. ー The merchant in the meantime took up the bundle of papers, pulled down his spectacles from the top of his head, and was soon profoundly interested in the perusal. ー The operation was slow ー time wore away, and Barney's patience began to wear with it: ー he had counted every brick in the opposite house, and read every sign, backwards and forwards, anagrammatizing the names, as far as he could see them up and down street ー he coughed walked to the fire ー trod upon the toes of the great watch-dog that lay stretched before it, and knocked down the poker. ー Everything has its end ー the last paper was at length read, and carefully refolded: the old gentleman lifted his spectacles once more above his forehead, and rising from his seat with an agility that little belonged to his ordinary motions, he advanced to the young seaman, seized his hand, and giving it a hearty shake with both his own, exclaimed, 'Captain Barney, you are welcome home, sir! I am glad to see you! I congratulate you heartily upon your safe return! your conduct meets my cordial approbation, sir, and I am proud to find that I have so deserving a young man in my employ. ー Take a seat, sir; we shall see what's to be done immediately!' ー The compellation with which the venerable merchant commenced this flattering address, was more soothing than all the rest of the compliment: ー to be called 'captain,' by one who had the legitimate right to bestow such titles, was indeed an honor to be prized; it wiped away all remembrance of his insulting reception, and when the business of the interview was finished, he made his retiring bow in the firm persuasion that John Smith was one of the first merchants in the world!
Thus ended this truly eventful voyage ー the ship had been absent nearly nine months, during the last eight ー of which Barney had been her commander, though at the moment of his arrival but sixteen years and three months old. He had already gone through scenes, and triumphed over difficulties, such as occur to few seamen in the course of a long life spent in navigation.