Frank Mildmay

FRANK MILDMAY.

FRANK MILDMAY

OR

THE NAVAL OFFICER

BY

CAPTAIN - MARRYAT

AUTHOR OF "MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY," "POOR JACK," " MASTERMAN

READY," "THE PIRATE — THREE CUTTERS," ETC., ETC.

LONDON" :

RICHARD EDWARD KING,

88, Curtain Road, E.G.

LOIfDON:

PRINTBI) BY niGHARD EDWARD KTNO,

CURTAIJV ROAD, E.G.

FRANK MILDMAY

:o:

CHAPTER I.

These are the errors, and these are the fruits of misspending our prime
youth at the schools and universities, as we do, either in learning njpre
words, or such things chiefly as were better unlearned. — Milton.

My father was a gentleman, and a man of considerable property.
In my infancy and childhood I was weak and sickly, but the
favourite of my parents beyond all my brothers and sisters,
because they saw that my mind was far superior to my sickly
frame, and feared they should never raise me to manhood ;
contrary, however, to their expectations, I surmounted all these
untoward appearances, and attracted much notice from my^
liveliness, quickness of repartee, and impudence : qualities whicn
have been of much use to me through life.

I can remember that I was both a coward and a boaster ; but I
have frequently remarked that the quality which we call cowardice
in a child, implies no more than a greater sense of danger,
and consequently a superior inteHect. We are all naturally
cowards : education and observation teach us to discriminate
between real and apparent danger; pride teaches the conceal-
ment of fear ; and habit render us indifferent to that from which
we have often escaped with impunity. It is related of the Great
Frederick that he misbehaved the first time he went into action ;
arid it is certain that a novice in such a situation can no more
command all his resources than a boy when first bound apprentice
to a shociiiai.ci can make a pair of shoes. We must learn
our trade, whether it be to stand steady before the enemy
or to stitch a boot ; practice alone can make a Hoby or a
Wellington. *

I pass on to my schoel-days, when the most lasting impres-
sions are made. The foundation of my moral and religious
instruction had been laid with care by my excellent parents;

^

2 FRANK MILDMAY.

but, alas ! from the time I quitted the paternal roof not one
stone was added to the building* ; and even the traces of what
existed were nearly obliterated by the deluge of vice which
threatened soon to overwhelm me. Sometimes, indeed, I feebly,
but ineffectually, endeavoured to stem the torrent ; at others, I
suffered myself to be borne along with all its fatal rapidity. I
was frank, generous, quick, and mischievous ; and I must admit
that a large portion of what sailors call '* devil" was openly
displayed, and a much larger portion latently deposited in my
brain and bosom. My ruling passion, even in this early stage
of life was pride. Lucifer himself, if he ever was seven years*
old, had not more. If I have gained a fair name in the service,
if I have led instead of followed, it must be ascribed to this my
ruling passion. The world has often given me credit for better
feelings, as the source of action ; but I am not writing to conceal,
and the truth must be told.

I was sent to school to learn Latin and Greek, of which there
are various ways of teaching. Some tutors attempt the suaviter
in fnodo, my schoolmaster preferred the fortiter in re^ and, as
the boatswain said, by the ''instigation" of a large knotted
stick, he drove knowledge into our skulls as a caulker drives
oakum into the seams of a ship. Under such tuition, we made
astonishing progress ; and whatever my less desirable acquire-
ments may have been, my father had no cause to complain of
my deficiency in classic lore. Superior in capacity to most of
my schoolfellows, I seldom took the pains to learn my lesson
previous to going up with the class: "the master's blessing,"
as we called it, did occasionally descend on my devoted head,
but that was a bagatelle ; I was too proud not to keep pace with
my equals, and too idle to do more.

Had my schoolmaster been a single man, my stay under his
care might have been prolonged to my advantage ; but, unfor-
tunately, both for him and for me, he had a helpmate, and her
peculiarly unfortunate disposition was the means of corrupting
those morals over which it was her duty to have watched with
the most assiduous care. Her ruling passions were suspicion
and avarice, written in legible characters in her piercing eyes
and sharp-pointed nose. She never supposed us capable of
telling the truth, so we very naturally never gave ourselves the
trouble to cultivate a useless virtue, and seldom resorted to it
unless it answered our purpose better than a lie. This propensity
of Mrs. Higginbottom converted our candour and honesty into
deceit and fraud. Never believed, we cared little about the
accuracy of our assertions ; half-starved through her meanness
and parsimony, we were little scrupulous as to the ways and
means provided we could satisfy our hunger ; and thus we soon

FRANK MILDMAY. 5

became as great adepts in the elegant accomplishments of lying
and thieving, under her tuition, as we did in Greek and Latin
under that of her husband.

A large orchard, fields, garden, and poultry-yard, attached to
the establishment, were under the care and superintendence of
the aaistress, who usually selected one of the boys as her prime
minister and confidential adviser. This boy, for whose education
his parents were paying some sixty or eighty pounds per annum,
was permitted to pass his time in gathering up the windfalls ;
in watching the hens, and bringing in their eggs when their
cackling throats had announced their safe accouchement ; looking
after the broods of young ducks and chickens, et hoc genus
omne ; in short, doing the duty of what is usually termed the odd
man in the farm-yard. How far the parents would have been
satisfied with this arrangement, I leave my readers to guess ; but
to us who preferred the manual to mental exertion, exercise to
restraint, and any description of cultivation to that of cultivating
the mind, it suited extremely well ; and accordingly no place in
the gift of government was ever the object of such solicitude and
intrigue, as was to us schoolboys the situation of collector and
trustee of the eggs and apples.

1 had the good fortune to be early selected for this important
post, and the misfortune to lose it soon after, owing to the
cunning and envy of my schoolfellows and the suspicion of my
employers. On my first coming into office, I had formed the
most sincere resolutions of honesty and vigilance ; but what are
good resolutions when discouraged on the one hand by the
revihngs of suspicion, and assailed on the other hy the cravings
of appetite?* My morning's collection was exacted from me to
the very last nut, and the greedy eyes of my mistress seemed to
inquire for more. Suspected when innocent, I became guilty
out of revenge; was detected and dismissed. A successor was
appointed, to whom I surrendered all my offices of trust, and
having perfect leisure, I made it my sole business to supplant

him.

It was an axiom in mathematics with me at that time, though
not found in Euclid, that wherever I could enter my head, my ,
whole body might follow. As a practical illustration of this
proposition, I applied my head to the arched hole of the hen-
house door, and by scraping away a little dirt, contrived to gain
admittance, and very speedily transferred all the eggs to my own
chest- When the new purveyor arrived, he found nothing but
*' a beggarly account of empty boxes ; " and his perambulations
in the orchard and garden, for the same reason, were equally
fruitless. The pilferings of the orchard and garden I confiscated
as droits ; but when I had collected a sufficient number of eggs

4 FRANK MILDMAY.

to furnish a nest, I gave information of my pretended discovery
to my mistress, who, thinking she had not changed for the better,
dismissed my successor, and received me into favour again. I
was, like many greater men, immediately reinstated in office
when it was discovered that they could not do without me. I
once more became chancellor of the hen-roost and ranger pf the
orchard, with greater power than I had possessed before my
disgrace. Had my mistress looked half as much in my face as
she did into my hatful of eggs, she would have read my guilt ; for
at that unsophisticated age I could blush, a habit long since
discarded in the course of n^y professional duties.

In order to preserve my credit and my situation, I no longer
contented myself with windfalls, but assisted nature in her
labours, and greatly lightened the burthen of many a loaded
fruit-tree ; by these means, I not only gratified the avarice of my
mistress at her own expense, but also laid by a ^tore for my own
use. On my restoration to office, I had an ample fund in my
exchequer to ans^ye^ all present demands ; and, by a provident
and industrious anticipation, was enabled to lull the suspicions of
my employers, and to bid defiance to the opposition. It will
readily be supposed that a lad of my acuteness did not omit any
technical management for the purpose of disguise ; the fruits
which I presented were generally soiled with dirt at the ends of the
stalks, in such a manner as to give them all the appearance
oi'^/elo de se^*^ i.e. fell of itself. Thus, in the course of a few
months, did I become an adept of vice, from the mismanagement
of those into whose hands I was intrusted to be strengthened in
religion and virtue. ?

Fortunately for me, as far as my education was concerned, I
did not long continue to hold this honourable and lucrative
employment. One of those unhappy beings called an usher
peeped into my chest, and by way of acquiring popularity with
the mistress and scholars, forthwith denounced me to the higher
powers. The proofs of my peculation were too glaring, and the
amount too serious, to be passed over ; I was tried, convicted,
condemned, sentenced, flogged, and dismissed in the course of
half an hour ; and such was the degree of turpitude attached to
me on this occasion, that I was rendered for ever incapable of
serving in that or any other employment connected with the
garden or farm ; I was placed at the bottom of the list, and
declared to be the worst boy in the school.

This in many points of view was too true ; but there was one
boy who bade fair to rival me on the score of delinquency ; this
was Tom Crauford, who from that day became my most intimate
friend. Tom was a fine spirited fellow, up to everything, loved
mischief, though not vicious, and was ready to support me in

FRANK MILD MAY. 5

everything through thick and thin ; and truly I found him
sufficient employment. I threw off all disguise, laughed at any
suggestion of reform, which I considered as not only useless,
but certain of subjecting me to ridicule and contempt among
my associates 1 therefore adopted the motto of some great
man, '*tobe rather than seem to be." I led in every danger ;
declared war against all drivellers and half-measures ; stole
everything that was eatable from garden, orchard, or hen-house,
knowing full well that whether I did so or not, I should be
equally suspected. Thenceforward all fruit missed, all arrows
shot into pigs, all stones thrown into the windows, and all mud
spattered over clean linen hung out to dry, were traced to Tom
and myself ; and with the usual alacrity of an arbitrary police,
the space between apprehension and punishment was very short
— we were constantly brought before the master, and as regularly
dismissed with " his blessing,*' till we became hardened to blows
and to shame.

Thus, by the covetousness of this woman, who was the grey
mare, and the folly of the master, who, in anything but Greek
and Latin, was an ass, my good principles were nearly eradicated
fi-om my bosom, and in their place were sown seeds which very
shortly produced an abundant harvest.

There was a boy at our school lately imported from the East
Indies. "We nick-named him Johnny Pagoda. He was remark-
able for nothing but ignorance, impudence, great personal
strength, and, as we thought, determined resolution. He was
about nineteen years of age. One day he incurred the dis-
pleasure of the master, who, enraged at his want of comprehen-
sion and attention, struck him over the head with- the knotted
cane^"-; This appeal, although made to the least sensitive part of
his frame, roused the indolent Asiatic from his usual torpid state.
The weapon, in the twinkling of an eye, was snatched out of the
hand, and suspended over the head of the astonished pedagogue,
who, seeing the tables so suddenly turned against him, made
the signal for assistance. I clapped my hands, shouted " Bravo !
lay on, Johnny — go it — you have done it now — you may as well
be hanged for a sheep as a iamb ; " but the ushers began to
muster round, the boys hung aloof, and Pagoda, uncertain which
side the neutrals would take, laid down his arms, and surrendered
at discretion.

Had the East-Indian followed up his act by the application
of a little discipline at the fountain-head, it is more than prob-
able that a popular commotion, not unlike that of Masaniello,
would have ensued ; but the time was not come — the Indian
showed a white feather, was laughed at, flogged, and sent home
to his friends, who had intended him for the bar ; but foreseeing

6 FRANK MILDMAY.

that he -might, in the course of events, chance to cut a figure on
the wrong- side of it, sent him to sea, where his valour, if lie had
any, would find more profitable employment.

This unsuccessful attempt of the young- Orient^il was the primary
cause of all my fame and celebrity in after-life. I had always
hated school ; and this, of all others, seem to me the most hate-
ful, The emancipation of Johnny Pagoda convinced me that my
deliverance might be effected in a similar manner. The train was
laid, and a spark set it on fire. This spark was supplied by the
folly and vanity of a fat French dancing-master. These French-
men are ever at the bottom of mischief. Mrs. Higginbottom, the
master'sWife, had denounced me to Monsieur Aristide Maugrebleu
as a mauvais suj'et ; and as he was a creature of hers, he
frequently annoyed me to gratify his patroness. This fellow was
at that time about forty-five years of age, and had much more
experience than agility, having greatly increased his bulk by the
roast beef and ale of England. While he taught us the rigadoons
of his own country, his vanity induced him to attempt feats much
above the cumbrous weight of his frame. I entered the lists with
him, beat him at his own trade, and he beat me with his fiddle-
stick, which broke in two over my head ; then, making one more
glorious effort to show that he would not be outdone, snapped the
tendon Achilles, and down he fell, ho?'S de combat as a dancing-
master. He was taken away in his gig to be cured, anfi I was
taken into the school-room to be flogged.

This I thought so unjust that I ran away, Tom Crauford helped
me to scale the wall ; and when he supposed I had got far enough
to be out of danger from pursuit, went and gave information,
to avoid the suspicion of having aided and abetted. After
running a mile, to use a sea phrase, I hove to, and began to
compose, in my mind, an oration which I intended to pronounce
before my father, by way of apology for my sudden and unexpected
appearance ; but I was interrupted by the detested usher and
half a dozen of the senior bo3's, among whom was Tom Crauford.
Coming behind me as I sat on a stile, they cut short my
meditations by a tap on the shoulder, collared and marched me
to the right about in double quick time. Tom Crauford was
one of those who held me, and outdid himself in zealous in-
vective at my base ingratitude in absconding from the best of
masters, and the most affectionate, tender, and motherly of all
school-dames.

The usher swallowed all this, and I soon made him swallow a
great deal more. We passed near the side of a pond, the shoals
and depths of which were well-known to me. I looked at Tom out
of the corner of my eye, and motioned iiim to let me go ; and, like
a mackerel out of a fisherman's hand, I darted into the water, got

FRANK MILDMAY. 7

up to my middle, and then very coolly, for it was November,
turned round to gaze at my escort, who stood at bay, and looked
very much like fools. The usher, like a low-bred cur, when he
could no longer bully, began to fawn; he entreated and he im-
plored me to think on "my papa and mamma; how miserable
they would be, if they could but see me ; what an increase of
punishment I was bringing on myself by such obstinacy." He
held out by turns coaxes and threats ; in short, everything but an
amnesty, to which I considered myself entitled, having been driven
to rebellion by the most cruel persecution.

Argument having failed, and there being no volunteeis to come
in and fetch me out of the water, the poor usher, much against his
inclination, was compelled to undertake it. With shoes and
stockings off, and trousers tucked up, he ventured one foot into
the water, then the other ; a cold shiver reached his teeth, and
made them chatter ; but, at length, with cautious tread he ad-
vanced towards me. Being once in the water, a step or two
farther was no object to me, particularly as I knew I could but be
well flogged after all, and I was quite sure of that, at all events,
so I determined to have my revenge and amusement. Stepping
back, he followed, and suddenly fell over head and ears into a hole,
as he made a reach at me. I was already out of my depth, and
could swim like a duck, and as soon as he came up, I perched my
knees on his shoulders and my hands on his head, and sent him
souse under a second time, keeping him there until he had drunk
more water than any horse that ever came to the pond. I then
allowed him to wallow out the best way he could ; and as it was
very cold, I listened to the entreaties of Tom and the boys who
stood by, cracking their sides with laughter at the poor usher's
helpless misery.

Having had rny frolic, I came out, and voluntarily surrendered
myself to my enemies, from whom I received the same mercy in
proportion, that a Russian does from a Turk. Dripping wet, cold,
and covered with mud, I was first shown to the boys as an aggre-
gate of all that was bad in nature ; a lecture was read to them on
the enormity of my offence, and solemn denunciations of my
future destiny closed the discourse. The shivering fit produced
by the cold bath was relieved by as sound a flogging as could
•be inflicted, while two ushers held me ; but no effort of theirs
could elicit one groan or sob from me ; my teeth were clenched
in firm determination of revenge : with this passion my bosom
glowed, and my brain was on fire. The punishment, though
dreadfully severe, had one good effect — it restored my almost
suspended animation ; and I strongly recommend the same
remedy being applied to all young ladies and gentlemen who,
from disappointed love or other such trifling causes, throw them-

8 FRANK MILDMAY.

selves into the water. Had the miserable usher been treated after
this prescription, he might have escaped a cold and rheumatic
fever which had nearly consigned him to a country churchyard,
in all probability to reappear at the dissecting-room of St
Bartholomew's Hospital.

About this time Johnny Pagoda, who had been two years at sea,
came to the school to visit his brother and schoolfellows. I
pumped this fellow to tell me all he knew: he never tried to
deceive me, or to make a convert. He had seen enough of a
midshipman's life, to know that a cockpit was not paradise; but
he gave me clear and ready answers to all my questions. I dis-
covered that there was no schoolmaster in the ship, and that the
midshipmen were allowed a pint of wine a day. A man-of-war,
and the gallows, they say, refuse nothing ; and as I had some
strong presentiments from recent occurrences, that if I did not
volunteer for the one, I should, in all probability, be pressed for
the other, I chose the lesser evil of the two ; and having made up ■
my mind to enter the glorious profession, I shortly after communi-
cated my intention to my parents.

From the moment I had come to this determination, I cared
not what crime I committed, in hopes of being expelled from
the school. I wrote scurrilous letters, headed a mutiny,

entered into a league with the other boys to sink, burn, and
destroy, and do all the mischief we could. Tom Crauford had
the master's child to dry nurse: he was only two years old:
Tom let him fall, not intentionally, but the poor child was a
cripple in consequence of it for life. This was an accident which
under any other circumstances we should have deplored, but to
us it was almost a joke. *>

The cruel treatment I had received from these people, had
so demoralized me, that those passions which under more
skilful or kinder treatment had either not been known, or would
have lain dormant, were roused into full and malignant activity :
I went to school a good-hearted boy, I left it a savage. The
accident with the child occurred two days before the com-
mencement of the vacation, and we were all dismissed on the
following day in consequence. On my return home I stated
verbally to my father and mother, as I had done before by
letter, that I was resolved to go to sea. My mother wept, my '
father expostulated I gazed with apathy on the one, and
listened with cold indifference to the reasoning and arguments
of the other ; a choice of schools was offered to me, where I
might be a parlour boarder, and I was to finish at the univer-
sity, if I would give up my fatal infatuation. Nothing, how-
ever, would do ; the die was cast, and for the sea I was to
prepare.

FRANK MILDMAY. 9

What fool was it who said that the happiest times of our lives
is passed at school ? There may, indeed, be exceptions, but
the remark cannot be generalized. Stormy as has been my
life, the most miserable part of it (with very little exception)
was passed at school ; and my mind never received so
much injury from any scenes of vice and excess in after-life,
as it did from the shameful treatment and bad example I met
with there. If my bosom burned with fiend-like passions,
whose fault was it ? How had the sacred pledge, given by the
master, been redeemed ? Was I not sacrificed to the most
sordid avarice, in the first instance, and almost flayed alive in
the second, to gratify revenge ? Of the filthy manner in which
our food was prepared, I can only say that the bare recol-
jfection of it excites nausea ; and to this hour, bread and
milk, suet pudding, and shoulders of mutton, are objects of my
deep-rooted aversion. The conduct of the ushers, who were
'either tyrannical extortioners, or partakers in our crimes — the
constant loss of our clothes by the dishonesty or carelessness of
the servants — the purloining our silver spoons, sheets, and towels,
when we went away, upon the plea of "custom " — the charges in
the account for windows which I had never broken, and books
which I had never received — the shameful difference between the
annual cost promised by the master, and the sum actually charged,
ought to have opened the eyes of my father.

I am aware how excellent many of these institutions are, and
that there are few so bad as the one I was sent to. The
history of my life will prove of what vital importance it is to
ascertain the character of the master and mistress as to other
"points besides teaching Greek and Latin, before a child is intrusted
to their care. I ought to have observed, that during my stay at
this school, I had made some proficiency in mathematics and
algebra.

My father had procured for me a berth on board a fine
frigate at Plymouth, and the interval between my nomination
and joining was spent by my parents in giving advice to me,
and directions to the several tradesmen respecting my equip-
ment. The large chest, the sword, the cocked-hat, the half-
boots, were all ordered in succession ; and the arrival of each
article, either of use or ornament, was anticipated by me with
a degree of impatience which can only be compared to that of
a ship's company arrived off Dennose from a three years' station
in India, and who hope to be at anchor at Spithead before
sunset. The circumstance of my going to sea affected my
father in no other way than it interfered with his domestic
comforts by the immoderate grief of my poor mother. In any
other point of view my choice of profession was a source of no

10 FRANK Mir^DMAY.

regret to him. I had an elder brother, who was intended to have
the family estates, and who was then at Oxford, receiving an
education suitable to his rank in life, and also learning how to
spend his money like a gentleman. Younger brothers are, in such
cases, just as well out of the way, particularly one of my turbulent
"disposition : a man-of-war, therefore, like another ;piece of timber ^
has its uses. My father paid all the bills with great philosophy,

and made me a liberal allowance for my age.

The hour of departure drew near ; my chest had been sent
off by the Plymouth waggon, and a hackney-coach drew up to
the door, to convey me to the White Horse Cellar. The
letting down of the rattling steps completely overthrew the
small remains of fortitude which my dearest mother had reserved
for our separation, and she threw her arms around my neck in
a frenzy of grief. I beheld her emotions with a countenance
as unmoved as the figure-head of a ship ; while she covered my
stoic face with kisses, and washed it with her tears. I almost
wondered what it all meant, and wished the scene was over.

My father helped me out of this dilemma ; taking me firmly
by the arm, he led me out of the room ; my mother sank upon
the sofa, and hid her face in her pocket-handkerchief. I
walked as quickly to the coach as common decency would
permit. My father looked at me, as if he would inquire of my
very inward soul whether I really did possess human feelings ?
I felt the meaning of this, even in my then tender years ; and
such was my sense of propriety, that I mustered up a tear for
each eye, which, I hope, answered the intended purpose. We say
at sea, " When you have no decency sham a little ; *' and I verily
believe I should have beheld my poor mother in her coffin with less
regret than I could have foregone the gay and lovely scenes which
I anticipated.

How amply has this want of feeling towards a tender parent
been recalled to my mind, and severely punished, in the events of
my vagrant life !

CHAPTER II.

Injuries may be atoned for and forgiven ; but insults admit of no compen-
sation. They degrade the mind in its own esteem, and force it to recover
its level by revenge, — Junius.

There are certain events in our lives poetically and beautifully
described by Moore as *' green spots in memory's waste.*'
Such are the emotions arising from the attainment, after a long
pursuit, of any darling object of love or ambition ; and although

FRANK MILDMAY. ii

possession and subsequent events may have proved to us that
we had overrated our enjoyment, and experience have shown
us **that all is vanity," still recollection dwells with pleasure
upon the beating hcait, when the present only was enjoyed, and
the picture painted by youthful and sanguine anticipation in glow-
ing and delightful colours. Youth only can feel this; age has
been often deceived — too often has the fruit turned to ashes in the
mouth. The old look forward with a distrust and doubt, and
backward with sorrow and regret.

One of the red-letter days of my life was that on which I
first mounted the uniform of a midshipman. My pride and
ecstasy were beyond description. I had discarded the school
and school-boy dress, and, with them, my almost stagnant
existence. Like the chrysalis changed into a butterfly, I fluttered
about, as if to try my powers ; and felt myself a gay and
beautiful creature, free to range over the wide domains of nature,
clear of the trammels of parents or schoolmasters ; and my
heart bounded within me at the thoughts of being left to enjoy,
at my own discretion, the very acme of all the pleasure that
human existence can afford; and I observe that in this, as in
most other cases, I met with that disappointment which usually
attends us. True it is, that in the days of my youth, I did
enjoy myself. I was happy for a time, if happiness it could be
called ; but dearly have I paid for it. I contracted a debt, which
I have been liquidating by instalments ever since ; nor am I yet
emancipated. Even the small portion of felicity that fell to my lot
on this memorable morning was brief in duration, and speedily
followed by chagrin. V

But to return to my uniform. I had arrayed myself in it;
my dirk was belted round my waist; a cocked-hat, of an
enormous size, stuck on my head ; and, being perfectly satisfied
with my own appearance at the last survey which I had made in
the glass, I first rang for the chambermaid, under pretence of tel-
ling her to make my room tidy, but, in reality, that she might ad-
mire and compliment me, which she very wisely did ; and I was
fool enough to give her half a crown and a kiss, for I felt myself
quite a mafi. The waiter, to whom the chambermaid had in all
probability communicated the circumstance, presented himself,
and having made a low bow, offered the same compliments, and
received the same reward, save the kiss. Boots would, in all
probability, have come in for his share, had he been in the way,
for I was fool enough to receive all their fine speeches as if they
were my due, and to pay for them at the same time in ready money.
I was a gudgeon and they were sharks ; and more sharks would
soon have been about me, for I heard them, as they left the room,

12 FRANK MILDMAY.

call '' boots " and '* ostler/' of course to assist in lighteniag my
purse.

But I was too impatient to wait on my captain and see my ship
— so I bounced down the stairs, and in the twinkling of an eye
was on my way to Stonehouse, where my vanity received another
tribute, by a raw rec^«iit of marine raising his hand to his head,
as he passed by me. I took it as it was meant, raised my hat off
my head, and shuffled by with much self-importance. One
consideration, I own, mortified me — this was that the natives did
not appear to admire me half so much as I admired myself. It
never occurred to me then, that middies were as plentiful at
Plymouth Dock, as black boys at Port Royal, though, perhaps,
not of so much value to their masters, I will not shock the
delicacy of my fair readers by repeating all the vulgar alliterations
with which my novitiate was greeted, as I passed in review
before the ladies of North Corner, who met me in Fore Street.
Unsophisticated as I then was, in many points, and certainly in
this, I thought them extremely ill-bred. Fortunately for me, the
prayers of a certain description of people never prevail, otherwise
I should have been immediately consigned to a place, from
which, I fear, all the masses of France and Italy woidd not have
extricated me.

I escaped from these syrens without being bound to the mast,
like Ulysses ; but, like him, I had nearly fallen a victim to a
modern Polyphemus ; for though he had not one eye in the
middle of his forehead, after the manner of his prototype, yet
the rays from both his eyes meeting together at the tip of
his long nose, gave him very much that appearance. Ignorance,
sheer ignorance, in this, as in many other cases, was the cause of
my disaster. A party of officers, in full uniform, were coming
from a court-martial. " Oh, oh ! " said I, " here come some
of us." I seized my dirk in my left hand, as I saw they held
their swords, and I stuck my right hand into my bosom as some
of them had done. I tried to imitate their erect and officer-like
bearing ; I put my cocked-hat on fore and aft, with the gold
rosette dangling between my two eyes, so that in looking at it,
which I could not help doing, I must have squinted, ^nd I
held my nose high in the air, like a pig in a hurricane, fancyiag
myself as much an object of admiration to them as I was to
myself. We passed on opposite tacks, and our respective
velocities had separated us to the distance of twenty or thirty
yards, when one of them called out to me in a voice evidently
cracked in His Majesty's service — '* Hollo, young gentleman,
come back here."

I concluded I was going to be complimented on the cut of
my coat, to be auked tUe address of my tailor, and to hear the

FRANK MILDMAY. 13

rakish sit of my hat admired. I now beg"an to think I should
hear a contention between the lords of the ocean, -as to who
should have me as a sample middy on their quarter-decks ; and
I was even framing- an excuse to my father's friend for not
joininn^ his sliip. Judg^e then of my surprise and mortification,
when I was thus accosted in an angry and menacing tone by the
oldest of the officers —

" Pray, sir, what ship do you belong to ? "

** Sir," said I, proud to be thus interrogated, ** I belong: to His

Majesty's ship the Z^ " (iiaving a French name, I clapped

on both the French and English articles, as being more
impressive).

"Oh, you do, do you?" said the veteran, with an air of
conscious superiority; "then you will be so good as to turn
round, go down to Mutton Cove, take a boat, and have your
person conveyed with ail possible speed on board of His

Majesty's ship the Zc •" (imitating me) ; "and tell the first

lieutenant it is my order that you bo not allowed any more leave
while the ship is in port ; and I shall tell your captain he must
teach his officers better manners than to pass the port-admiral
without touching their hats."

While this harangue was going on, I stood in a circle, Ot
which I was the centre, and the admiral and the captains formed
the circumference : what little air there was their bodies inter-
cepted, so that I was not only in a stew, but stupefied into the
bargain.

"There, sir, you hear me — you may go."

" Yes, I do hear you," thinks I ; " but how the devil am I to
get away from you?" for the cruel captains, like schoolboys
round a rat-trap, stood so close that I could not start. Fortu-
nately, this my blockade, which they no doubt intended for theii
amusement, saved me for that time. I recollected myself, and
said, with affected simplicity of nianner, that I had that morning
put on my uniform for the h^-^t time ; that I had never seen my
captain, and never was on board a ship in all my life. At
this explanation, the countenance of the admiral relaxed into
something that was meant for a smile, and the captains all burst
into a loud laugh.

"Well, young man," said the admiral — who was really a
good-tempered fellow, though an old one — "well, young man,
since you have never been at sea, it is some excuse for not
knowing good manners ; there is no necessity now for delivering
my message to the first lieutenant, but you may go on board your
ship."

Having seen me well roasted, the captains opened right and
left, and let me pass. As I left them i heard one say, "Just

14 FRANK MILDMAY.

caug-ht— marks of the dogs' teeth in his heels, I warrant you."
I did not stop to make any reply, but sneaked away, mortified
and crest-fallen, and certainly obeyed this, the first order which
I had ever received in the service, with more exactness than I
ever did any subsequent one.

During tha remainder of my walk, I touched my hat to every
one I met. T conferred the honour of salute on midshipmen,
master's mates, sergeants of marines, and two corporals. Nor
was I aware of my over complaisance, until a young woman,
dressed like a lady, who knew more of the navy than I did, asked
me if I had come down to stand for the borough ? Without
knowing what she meant, I replied, " No."

"I thought you might," said she, "seeing you are so d — d
civil to everybody." Had it not been for this friendly hint, I
really believe I should have touched my hat to a drummer.

Having gone through this ordeal, I reached the inn at
Plymouth, where I found my captain, and presented my father's
letter. He surveyed me from top to toe, and desired the pleasure
of my company to dinner at six o'clock. "In the meantime,"
he said, "as it is now only eleven, you may go aboard, and
show yourself to Mr. Handstone, the first lieutenant, who will
cause your name to be entered on the books, and allow you
to come back here to dine.** I bowed and retired ; and on my
way to Mutton Cove was saluted by the females with the
appellation of "royal reefer" (midshipman), and a "biscuit
nibbler ; " but all this I neither understood nor cared for. I
arrived safely at Mutton Cove, where two women, seeing my
inquirin<:^ eye and span-new dress, asked what ship they should
take " my honour" to. I told them the ship which I wished to
go on board of.

"She lays under the Oheh'sk,^^ said the elder woman, who
appeared to be about forty years of age ; " and we will take your
honour off for a shilling."

I agreed to this, both for the novelty of the thing, as well as on
account of my natural gallantry and love of female society. The
elder woman was mistress of her profession, handling her scull
(oar) with great dexterity : but Sally, the younger one, who was
her daughter, was still in her novitiate. She was pretty, cleanly
dressed, had on white stockings, and sported a neat foot and
ankle.

"Take care, Sally," said the mother; "keep stroke, or you
will catch a crab."

"Never fear, mother," said the confident Sally; and at the
same moment, as if the very caution against the accident was the
cause of it, the blade of her scull did not dip into the water. The
oar meeting no resistance, its loom, or handle, came back upon

FRANK MILDMAY. i5

the bosom of the unfortunate Sally, tipped her backwards — up
went her heels in the air, and down fell her head into the bottom
of the boat. As she was pulling- the stroke oar, her feet almost
came in contact with the rosette of my cocked-hat.

" There now, Sally," said the wary mother ; ** I told you how it
would be — I knew you would catch a crab ! "

Sally quickly recovered herself, blushed a little, and resumed
her' occupation. "That's what we call catching a crab in our
country," said the woman. I replied that I thought it was a very
pretty amusement, and I asked Sally to try and catch another ;
but she declined, and by this time we had reached the side of
the ship.

Having paid my naiads, I took hold of the man-rope, as I was
instructed by them, and mounted the side. Reaching the gang-
way, I was accosted by a midshipman in a round jacket and
trousers, a shirt none of the cleanest, and a black silk handker-
chief tied loosely round his neck.

" Who did you want, sir ? " said he.

'* I wish to speak with Mr. Handstone, the first lieutenant,"
said I. He informed me that the first lieutenant was then gone
down to frank the letters, and when he came on deck, he would
acquaint him with my being there.

After this dialogue, I was left on the larboard side of the
quarter-deck to my own meditations. The ship was at this
time refitting, and was what is usually called in the hands
of the dockyard, and a sweet mess she was in. The quarter-
deck carronades were run fore and aft ; the slides unbolted from
the side, the decks were covered with pitch fresh poured into the
seams, and the caulkers were sitting on their boxes ready to
ret^ew their noisy labours as soon as the dinner-hour had expired.
The middies, meanwhile, on the starboard side of the quarter-
deck, were taking my altitude, and speculating as to whether
I was to be a messmate of theirs, and what sort of a chap I might
chance to be — both these points were solved very speedily.

The first lieutenant came on deck; the midshipman of the
watch presented me, and I presented my name and the cap-
tain's message.

'*Itis all right, sir," said Mr. Handstone. ''Here, Mr. Fly-
block, do you take this young gentleman into your mess ;
you may show him below as soon as you please, and tell him
where to hang his hammock up."

I followed my new friend down the ladder, under the half
^eck, where sat a woman, selling bread and butter and red
herrings to the sailors ; she had also clierries and clotted cream,
and a cask of strong beer, which seemed to be in great demand.
We passed her, and descended another ladder, which brought

t6 FRANK MILDMAY.

us to the 'tween decks, and into the steerage, in the forepart
of which, on the larboard side, abreast of the mainmast, was
my future residence — a small hole which they called a berth ;
it was ten feet long* by six, and about five feet four inches high ;
a small aperture, about nine inches .square, admitted a very
scanty portion of that which we most needed, namely, fresh
air and daylighti A deal table occupied a very considerable
extent of this small apartment, and on it stood a brass candle-
stick, with a dip candle, and a wick like a full-blown carnation.
The table-cloth was spread, and the stains of port wine and
gravy too visibly indicated, like the midshipman's dirty shirt,
the near approach of Sunday. The black servant was preparing
for dinner, and I was shown the seat I was to occupy. *'Good
Heaven ! " thought I, as I squeezed myself between the ship's
side and the mess-table ; *' and is this to be my future resi-
dence ? Better go back to school ; there, at least, there is

fresh air and clean linen." '-^

I would have written that moment to my dear, broken-
hearted mother, to tell her how gladly her prodigal son would
fly back to her arms ; but I was prevented doing this, first by
pride, and secondly by want of writing materials. Taking my
place, therefore, at the table, I mustered up all my philosophy ;
and, to amuse myself, called to mind the reflections of Gil Bias,
when he found himself in the den of the robbers, " Behold,
then, the worthy nephew of my uncle, Gil Perez, caught like a
rat in a trap."

Most of my new associates were absent on duty ; the 'tween
deck was crammed, with casks, and cases, and chests, and bags,
and hammocks ; the noise of the caulkers was resumed over my
head and all around me ; the stench of bilge-water, combining
with the smoke of tobacco, the effluvia of gin and beer, the
frying of beef-steaks and onions, and red herrings — the pressure
of a dark atmosphere and a heavy shower of rain, all conspired
to oppress my spirits, and render me the most miserable dog
that ever lived. I had almost resigned myself to despair, when
1 recollected the captain's invitation, and mentioned it to
Flyblock. " That's well thought of," said he; "Murphy also
dines with him ; you can both go together, and I dare say he
will be very glad of your company."

A captain seldom waits for a midshipman, and we took good
care he should not wait for us. The dinner was in all respects
one "on service." The captain said a great deal, tlie lieutenants
very little, and the midshipmen nothing at all ; but the perform-
ance of the knife and fork, and wine-glass (as far as it could be
got at), were exactly in the inverse ratio. The company con-

FRANK MILDMAY. 17

sisted of my own captain, and two others, our first lieutenant,
Murphy, and myself.

As soon as the cloth was removed, the captain filled me out
a glass of wine, desired I would drink it, and then go and see
how the wind was. I took this my first admonitory hint in its
literal sense and meaning ; but having a very imperfect idea of
the points of the compass, I own I felt a little puzzled how I
should obtain the necessary information. Fortunately for me,
there was a weathercock cv- the old church-steeple ; it had four
letters, which I certainly did know were meant to represent the
cardinal points. One of these seemed so exactly to correspond
with the vane above it, that I made up my mind the wind must
be west, and instantly returned to give my captain the desired in-
formation, not a little proud with my success in having obtained
it so soon. But what was my surprise to find that I was not
thanked for my trouble ; the company even smiled and winked a"t
each other; the first lieutenant nodded his head and said,
** Rather green yet.'* The captain, however, settled the
point according to the manners and customs, in such cases,
used at sea. "Here, youngster," said he, "here is another
glass for you ; drink that, and then Murphy will show you
what I mean." Murphy was my chaperon ; he swallowed his

wine — rather d gorge depJoyee, put down his glass very
energetically, and bowing, left the room.

When we had got fairly into the hall, we had the following
duet: — ■" What the h — brought you back again, you d — d
young greenhorn ? Could you not take a hint, and be off, as
the captain intended ? So I must lose my wine for such a d — d
young whelp as you. I'll pay you off for this, my tight fellow,
before we have been many weeks together."

I listened to this elegant harangue with some impatience, and
much more indignation. " I came back," said I, "to tell the
captain how the wind was."

"You bed — d," replied Murphy: "do you think the captain
did not know how the wind was — and if he had wanted to know,
don't you think he would have sent a sailor like me, instead of
such a d — d lubberly whelp as you ? "

"As to what the captain meant," said T, " I do not know. I
did as I was bid — but what do you mean by calling me a whelp }
I am no more a whelp than yourself ! "

"Oh, you are not, a'n't you?" said Murphy, seizing me by
one of my ears, which he pulled so unmercifully that he altered
the shape of it very considerably, making it something like the lee-
board of a Dutch schuyt.

This was not to be borne ; though, as I was but thirteen, he

i8 FRANK MILDMAY.

seventeen, and a very stout fellow, I should rather not have
sought an action with him. But he had begun it ; my honour
was at stake, and I only wonder I had not drawn my dirk, and
laid him dead at my feet. Fortunately for him, the rage I was
in made me forget I had it by my side: though I remembered
my uniform, the disgrace brought upon it, and the admiration
of the chambermaid, as well as the salute of the sentinel; all
which formed a combustible in my brain. I went off like a
flash, and darted my fist (the only weapon I had been most accus-
tomed to wield) into the left eye of my adversary, with a force
and precision which Cribb would have applauded. Murphy
staggered back with the blow, and for a moment I flattered
myself he had had enough of it.

But no — alas, this was a day of disappointments! he had only
retreated to take a spring ; he then came on me like the life-
guards at Waterloo, and his charge was irresistible. I was upset,
pummelled, thumped, kicked, and should probably have been the
subject of a coroner's inquest had not the waiter and chamber-
maid run in to my rescue. The tongue of the latter was particu-
larly active in my favour: unluckily for me, she had no other
weapon near her, or it would have g-one hard with Murphy.
" Shame ) " said she, *' for such a great lubberly creature to beat
such a poor, little, innocent, defenceless fellow as that. What
would his mamma say to see him treated so ? "

" D— n his mamma, and you too,'* said Pat, "look at my
eye.*'

*' D— n your eye,*' said the waiter: " it's a pity he had not
served the other one the same way ; no more than you deserve
for striking a child ; the boy is game, and that's more than you
are ; he is worth as many of you as will stand between this and
the iron chair at Barbican."

" I'd like to see him duck'd in it," said the maid.

While this was going on, I had resumed tny defensive attitude.
I had never once complained, and had gained the good-will of
all the bystanders, among whom now appeared my captain and
his friends. The blood was streaming from my mouth, and
I bore the marks of discipline from the superior prowess
of my enemy, who was a noted pugilist for his age, and
would not have received the hit from me, if he had supposed
my presumption would have led me to attack him. The
captain demanded an explanation. Murphy told the story
in his own way, and gave anything but the true version. I
could have beaten him at that, but truth answered my purpose
better than falsehood on this occasion ; so, as soon as he had

done, I gave my round unvarnished tale, and although defeated

FRANK MILDMAY. 19

in the field, I plainly saw that I had.the advantage of him in the
cabinet. Murphy was dismissed in disgrace, and ordered to rusti-
cate on board till his eye was bright.

" I should have confined you to the ship myself/* said the
captain, " but the boy has done it for me ; you cannot appear on
shore with that black eye."

As soon as he was gone, I was admonished to be more careful
in future. " You are," said the captain, " like a young bear ; all
your sorrows are before you ; if you give a blow for every hard
name you receive, your fate in the service may be foreseen : if
weak you will be pounded to a mummy — if strong, you will be
hated A quarrelsome disposition will make you enemies in every
rank you may attain ; you will be watched with a jealous eye, well
knowing, as we all do, that the same spirit of insolence and over-
bearing which you show in the cockpit, will follow you to the-
quarter-deck, and rise with you in the service. This advice is for
your own good ; not that I interfere in these things, as everybody
and everything finds its level in a man-of-war ; I only wish you to
draw a line between resistance against oppression, v/hich I admire
and respect, and a litigious, uncompromising disposition^ which I
despise . Now wash your face and go on board . Try by all means
to conciliate the rest of your messmates, for first impressions are
everything, and rely on it, Murphy's report will not be in your
favour."

This advice was very good, but had the disadvantage of
coming too late for that occasion by at least half an hour. The
fracas was owing to the captain's mismanagement, and the
manners and customs of the navy at the beginning of the nine-
teenth century. The conversation at the tables of the higher
ranks of the service in those days, unless ladies were present,
was generally such as a boy could not listen to without injury
to his better feelings I was therefore "hinted off; " but with
due respect to my captain, who is still living, I should have
been sent on board of my ship and cautioned against the bad
habits of the natives of North Corner and Barbican ; and if I
could not be admitted to the mysterious conversation of a
captain's table, I should have been told in a clear and decided
manner to depart, without the needless puzzle of an innuendo
which I did not and could not understand.

I returned on board about eight o'clock, where Murphy had
gone before me, and prepared a reception far from agreeable.
Instead of being welcomed to my berth, I was received with
coldness, and I returned to the quarter-deck, where 1 walked
till I was weary, and then leaned against a gun. From this
temporary alleviation, I was roused by a voice of thunder,
"Lean off that gun." I started up, touched my hat, and con-

20 FRANK MILDMAY.

tinued my solitary walk, looking now and then at the second lieu-
tenant, who had thus gruffiy addressed me. I felt a dejection of
spirits, a sense of destitution and misery, which I cannot describe.
I had done no wrong, yet I was suffering as if I had committed
a crime. I had been aggrieved, and had vindicated myself as
well as I could. I thought I was among devils, and not men ;
my thoughts turned homeward. I remembered my poor mother
in her agony of grief on the sofa ; and my unfeeling heart then
found that it needed the soothings of affection. I could have
wept, but I knew not where to go ; for I could not be seen to cry
on board of ship. My pride began to be humbled. I felt the
misery of dependence, although not wanting pecuniary resources ;
and would have given up all my prospects to have been once more
seated quietly at home.

The first lieutenant came on board soon after, and I heard
him relating my adventure to the second lieutenant. The tide
now evidently turned in my favour. I was invited down to the gun-
room ; and having given satisfactory answers to all the questions
put to me, Flyblock was sent for, and I was once more placed
under his protection. The patronage of the first lieutenant, I
flattered myself, would have ensured me at least common civility
for a short time

I had now more leisure to contemplate my new residence and
'new associates, who, having returned from the duty of the dock-
yard, were all assembled in the berth, seated round the table on
the lockers, which paid ** the double debt " of seats and
receptacles; but in order to obtain a sitting, it was requisite either
to climb over the backs of the conipany, or submit to " high
pressure " from the last comer. Such close contact, even with
our best friends, is never desirable; but in warm weather, in a
close, confined air, with a manifest scarcity of clean linen, it be-
came particularly inconvenient. The population here very far
exceeded the limits usually allotted to human beings in any
situation of life except in a slave ship. vThe midshipmen, of
whom there were eight full grown, and four youngsters, were
without either jackets or waistcoats ; some of them had their
shirt-sleeves rolled up, either to prevent the reception or to
conceal the absorption of dirt in the region of the wristbands.
The repast on the table consisted of a can or large black-jack of
small beer, and a japan bread-basket, full of sea-biscuit. To
compensate for this simple fare, and at the same time to cool
the close atmosphere of the berth, the table was covered with a
large green cloth with a yellow border, and many yellow spots
withal, where the colour had been discharged by slops of vinegar,
hot tea, &c., &c.; a sack of potatoes stood in one corner, and
the shelves all rounds and close over our heads, were stuffed

FRANK MILDMAY. 21

with plates, glasses, quadrants, knives and forks, loaves of sugar,
dirty stockings and shirts, and still fouler table-cloths, small
tooth-combs, and ditto large, clothes brushes and shoe brushes,
cocked-hats, dirks, German flutes, mahogany writing-desks, a
plate of salt butter, and some two or three pairs of naval half-
boots. A single candle served to make darkness visible, and the
stench had nearly overpowered me.

The reception I met with tended in no way to relieve these
horrible impressions. A black man, with no other dress than a
dirty check shirt and trousers, not smelling of amber, stood with-
in the door, ready to obey all and any one of the commands with
which he was loaded. The smell of the towel he held in his hand
to wipe the plates and glasses with, completed my discomfiture;
and I fell sick upon the seat nearest at me. Recovering from
this, without the aid of any "ministering angel," I contracted
the pupils of my eyes, and ventured to look around me. The
first who met my gaze, was my recent foe ; he bore the marks
of contention by having his eye bound up with brown paper
and a dirty silk pocket-handkerchief; the other was quickly
turned on me ; and, with a savage and brutal countenance, he
swore and denounced the severest vengeance on me for what I
had done. In this, he was joined by another ill-looking fellow,
with large whiskers,

I shall not repeat the elegant philippics with which I was
greeted. Suffice it to say that I found all the big ones against
me, and the little ones neuter ; the caterer, supposing I had
received suitable admonition for my future guidance, and that
I was completely bound over to keep the peace, turned all the
youn^^'^sters out of the berth. " As for you, Mr, Fistycuff," said
he, addressing himself to me, " you may walk off with the rest
of the gang, so make yourself scarce, like the Highlander's
breeches.''

The boys all obeyed the command in silence, and I was not
sorry to follow them. As I -went out he added, "So, Mr.
Rumbusticus, you can obey orders, I see, and it is well for you ;
for I had a biscuit ready to shy at your head." This affront, after
all I had suffered, I was forced to pocket ; but I could not under-
stand what the admiral could mean, when he said that people
went to sea " to learn manners."

I soon made acquaintance with the younger set of my mess-
mates, and we retreated to the forecastle as the only part of the
ship suitable to the nature of the conversation we intended to
hold. After one hour's deliberation, and notwithstanding it
was the first night 1 had ever been on board a ship, I was
unanimously elected leader of this little band. I became the
William Tell of the party, as having been the first to resist the

22 FRANK MILDMAY.

tyranny oi the oldsters, and especially of the tyrant Murphy. I
was let into all the secrets of the mess in which the youngsters
were placed by the captain to be instructed and kept in order.
Alas ! what instruction did we get but blasphemy? What order
were we kept in, except that of paying our mess, and being- for-
bidden to partake of those articles which our money had pur-
chased ? My blood boiled when they related all they had
suffered, and I vowed I would sooner die than submit to such
treatment.

The hour of bed-time arrived. I was instructed how to g'et into
my hammock, and laughed at for tumbling out on the opposite
side. I was forced to submit to this pride of conscious superiority
of these urchins, who could only boast of a few month's more
practical experience than myself, and who, therefore, called me a
greenhorn. But all this was done in good nature; and, after a
few hearty laughs from my companions, I gained the centre of
my suspended bed, and was very soon in a sound sleep. This
was only allowed to last till about four o'clock in the morning,
when down came the head of my hammock, and I fell to the deck
with my feet still hanging in the air, like poor Sally, when she
caught the crab. Stunned and stupefied by the fall, bewildered
by the violent concussion and the novelty of all around me, I
continued in a state of somnambulism, and it was some minutes
before I could recollect myself.

The marine sentinel at the gun-room door, seeing what had
happened, and also espying the person to whom I was indebted
for this favour, very kindly came to my assistance. He knotted
my lanyard, and restored my hammock to its place ; but he could
not persuade me to confide myself again to such treacherous bed-
posts, for I thought the rope had broken ; and so strongly did the
fear of another tumble possess my mind, that I took a blanket,
and lay down on a chest at Some little distance, keeping a sleep-
less eye directed to the scene of my late disaster.

This was fortunate ; for not many minutes had elapsed, when
Murphy, who 'had been relieved from the miildle watch, came
below, and seeing my hammock again hanging up, and supposing
me in it, took out his knife and cut it down. '* So then,"
said I to myself, *' it was you, was it, who invaded my slumbers,
and nearly dashed my brains out, and have now made the
second attempt." I vowed to Heaven that I would have
revenge; and 1 acquitted myself of that vow. Like the North
American savage, crouching lest he should see me, I waited
patiently till he had got into his hammock, and was in a sound
sleep, I then gently pushed a shot-case under the head of his
hammock, and placed the corner of it so as to receive his head;
for had it split his skull I should not have cared, so exasperated

FRANK MILDMAY. 23

was I, and so bent on revenge. Subtile and silent, I then cut
his lanyard : he fell, and his head coming- in contact with the
edge of the shot-case, he gave a deep groan, and there he lay.
I instanUy retreated to my chest and blanket, where I pretended
to snore, while the sentinel, who, fortunately for me, had seen
Murphy cut me down the first time, came with his lanthorn, and
seeing him apparently dead, removed the shot case out of the way,
and then ran to the sergeant of marines, desiring him to bring the
surgeon's assistant.

While the sergeant was gone, he whispered softly to me, '' Lie
still ; I saw the whole of it, and if you are found out, it may go
hard with you/' Murphy, it appeared, had few friends in the
ship ; all rejoiced at his accident. I laid very quietly in my
blanket while the surgeon's assistant dressed the wound ; and,
after a considerable time, succeeded in restoring the patient to
his senses : he was, however, confined a fortnight to his bed. I
was either not suspected, or, if I was, it was known that I was not
the aggressor. The secret was well kept. I gave the marine a
guinea, and took him into my service as valet de ;place.

And now, reader, injustice to myself, allow me to make a few
remarks. They may serve as a palliative, to a certain
degree, for that unprincipled career which the following pages
will expose. The passions of pride and revenge, implanted in
our fallen natures, and which, if not eradicated in the course of
my education, ought, at least, to have lain dormant as long as
possible, were, through the injudicious conduct of those io
whom I had been entrusted, called into action and full activity
at a very early age. The moral seeds sown by my parents,
which might have germinated and produced fruit, were not wa-
tered or attended to ; weeds had usurped their place, and were
occupying the ground which should have supported them ; and
at this period, when the most assiduous cultivation was neces-
sary to procure a return, into what a situation was I thrown ?
In a ship crowded with three hundred men, each of them, or
nearly so, cohabiting with an unfortunate female, in the lowest
state of degradation ; where oaths and blasphemy interlarded
every sentence ; where religion was wholly neglected, and the
only honour paid to the Almighty was a clean shirt on a Sunday ;
where implicit obedience to the will of an oflhcer was considered
of more importance than the observance of the Decalogue ; and
the Commandments of God were in a manner abrogated by the
Articles of War — for the first might be broken with impunity, and
even with applause, while the most severe punishment awaited any
infraction of the latter.

So much for the ship in the aggregate ; let us now survey the
midshipmen's berth. Here we found the same language and the

24 FRANK MILDMAY.

same manners, with scarcely one shade more of refinement.
Their only pursuits, when on shore, were intoxication and worse
debauchery, to be gloried in and boasted of when they returned
onboard. My captain said that everything- found its level in a
man of war. True ; but in a midshipman's berth it was the level
of a savage, where corporal strength was the sine qud non, and
decided whether you were to act the part of a tyrant or a slave.
The discipline of public schools, bad and demoralizing as it is,
was light, compared to the tyranny of a midshipman's berth
in 1803.

A mistaken notion has long prevailed, that boys derive
advantages from suffering under the tyranny of their oppressors
at schools ; and we constantly hear the praises of public schools
and midshipmen's berths on this very account — namely, " that
boys are taught to find their level." I do not mean to deny but
that the higher orders improve by collision with their inferiors,
and that a young aristocrat is often brought to his senses by
Teceiving a sound thrashing from the son of a tradesman. But
he that is brought up a slave, will be a tyrant when he has the
power ; the worst of our passions are nourished to inflict the
same evil on others which we boast of having suffered ourselves.
The courage and daring spirit of a noble-minded boy is rather
broken down by ill-usage which he has not the power to resist,
ijr, surmounting all this, he proudly imbibes a dogged spirit of
sullen resistance and implacable revenge, which become the bane
Df his future life.

The latter was my fate ; and let not my readers be surprised
or shocked, if, ir: the course of these adventures, I should
ilisplay some of the fruits of that fatal seed, so early and so
profus'.-ly sown in my bosom. If, on my first coming into the
ship, 1 shrank back with horror at the sound of blasphemy and
obscenity^f I shut my eyes to the promiscuous intercourse of
the sexes, it was not so long. By insensible degrees, I became
faniiiiarized by rice, and callous to its approach. In a few
months I had become nearly as corrupt as others. -*I might
indeed have resisted longer; but though the fortress of virtue
could have held out against open violence, it could not with-
stand the undermining of ridicule. My young companions, who,
as I have observed, had only preceded me six months in the
service, were already grown old in depravity ; they laughed at
my squeamishness, called me. ** milksop " and " boarding-school
miss," and soon made me as bad as themselves. We had not
quite attained the age of perpetration, but we were fully prepared
to meet it when it came.

1 had not been two days on board, when the youngsters
proposed a walk into the main top. I mounted the rigging with

FRANK MILDMAY. 25

perfect confidence, for I was always a good climber ; but I had
not proceeded far, when I was overtaken by the captain of the
top and another man, who, without any ceremony or preface,
seized me by each arm, and very deliberately lashed me fast in
the rigging They laughed at my remonstrance. I asked what
they meant, and the captain of the top said very civilly, taking
off his hat at the same time, ** that it was the way all gemmen
were sarved when they first went aloft; and I must pay my
footing as a bit of a parkazite." I looked down to the quarter-
deck for assistance, but every one there was laughing at me ;
and even the very little rogues of midshipmen who had enticed me
up were enjoying the joke. Seeing this was the case, I only
asked what was to pay. The captain of the top said a seven
shilling bit would be thought handsome. This I prorhise to give,
and was released on my own recognizances. When I reached the
quarter-deck I paid the money.

Having experienced nothing but cruelty and oppressioia since
I had been on board, I sorely repented of coming to sea ; my only
solace was seeing Murphy, as he lay in his hammock, with
his head bound up. This was a balm to me. " I bide my time,**
said I ; " I will yet be revenged on all of you ; *' and so 1 was. I
let none escape : I had them all in their turns, and glutted my
thirst for revenge.

I had been three weeks on board, when the ship was reported
ready for sea. I had acquired the favour of the first lieutenant
by a constant attention to the little duties he gave me to perform.
I had been put into a watch, and stationed in the fore-top,
and quartered at the foremast guns on the main deck. I was
told by the youngsters that the first lieutenant was a harsh
officer, and implacable when once he took a dislike ; his
manners, however, even when under the greatest excitement,
were always those of a perfect gentleman, and I continued
living on good terms with him. But with the second lieutenant
I was not so fortunate, lie had ordered me to take the jolly-boat
and bring off a women whom he kept; I remonstrated and refused,
and from that moment we never were friends.

Murphy had also recovered from his fall, and returneu to his
duty; his malice towards me increased, and I had no peace or
comfort in his presence. One day he threw a biscuit at my head,
calling me at the same time a name which reflected on the
legitimacy of my birth, in language the most coarse and vukyar.
In a moment all the admonitions which I had received, and all
my sufferings for impetuosity of temper, were forgotten ; the blood
boiled in my veins, and trickled from my wounded forehead.
Dizzy, and almost sightless with rage, 1 seized a brass
candlestick, the bottom of which (to keep it steady at sea) was

26 FRANK MILDMAY.

loaded with lead, and threw it at him with all my mi^e^ht ; had
it taken effect as I intended, that offence would have been his
last. It missed his head, and struck the black servant on the
shoulder; the poor man went howling to the surgeon, in whose
care he remained for many days.

Murphy started up to take instant vengeance, but was held
by the other seniors of the mess, who unanimously declared
that such an offence as mine should be punished in a more
solemn manner.- A mock trial (without adverting to the provoca-
tion I had received) found me guilty of insubordination ''to
the oldsters,'* and setting a bad example to the youngsters. I
was sentenced to be cobbed with a worsted stocking filled with wet
sand. I was held down on my face to the mess-table by four
stout midshipmen; the surgeon's assistant held my wrist, to
ascertain if my pulse indicated exhaustion ; while Murphy,
at his own particular request, became the executioner. Had
it been any other but him, I should have given vent to my
agonizing pain by screams ; but like a sullen Ebo, I was
resolved to endure even to death, rather than gratify him by
any expression of pain. After a most severe punishment, a
cold sweat and faintness alarmed the surgeon's assistant. I was
then released, but ordered to mess on my chest for a fortnight
by myself. As soon as I was able to stand, and had recovered
my breath, I declared in the most solemn manner, that a repe-
tition of the offence should produce the action for which I had
suffered, and I would then appeal to the captain for justice ;
*'and," said I, turning to Murphy, "it was I who cut down
your hammock, and had very nearly knocked out your brains.
I did it in return for your cowardly attack on me ; and I will
do it again, if I suffer martyrdom for it ; for every act of tyranny
you commit I will have revenge. Try me now, and see if I am
not as good as my word." He grinned, and turned pale, but
dared do no more, for he was a coward. I was ordered to quit
the berth, which I did, and as I went out one of the mates
observed that I was " a proper malignant devil, by G — ."

This violent scene produced a sort of cessation from hostili-
ties. Murphy knew that he might expect a decanter at his
head or a knife in his side, if I was provoked; and that peace
which I could not gain from his compassion, I obtained from
his fears. The affair made a noise in the ship. With tlie officers
in the gunroom I lost ground, because it was misrepresented.
With the men I gained favour, because they hated Murphy.
They saw the truth, and admired me for my determined
resistance.

Sent to Coventry by the officers, I sought the society of the
men. I learned rapidly the practical part of my duty, and

FRANK MILDMAY. i^

profited by the uncouth criticism of these rough warriors on the
defective seamanship of their superiors. A sort of compact
was made between us : they promised that whenever they
deserted, it should not be from my boat when on duty, and I
promised to let them go and drink at public-houses as long as
I could spare them. In spite, however, of this mutual under-
standing, two of them violated their faith the night before we
went to sea, and left the boat of which I had charge ; and as I
had disobeyed orders in letting them go into a public-house, I
was, on my return to the ship, dismissed from the quarter-deck,
and ordered to do my duty in the fore-top.

CHAPTER III.

The might of England flushed
To anticipate the scene ;

And her van tlic fleeter rush'd

O'er tlie deadly space between.
" Hearts of oak ! " our captains cried ; when each gun

From its adamantine lips

Spread a death-shade round the ships,
Like the hurricane eclipse
Of the sun. Campbell.

Considering my youth and inexperience, and the trifling
neglect of which I was accused, there are few, even of the
most rigid disciplinarians, who will not admit that I was both
unjustly and unkindly treated by the first lieutenant, who cer-
tainly, with all my respect for him, had lent himself to my
enemies. The second lieutenant and Mr. Murphy did not even
conceal their feelings on the occasion, but exulted over my

disgrace.

The ship was suddenly ordered to Portsmouth, where the
captain, who had been on leave, was expected to join us, wliich
he did soon after our arrival, when the first lieutenant made his
reports of good and bad conduct during his absence. I had
been about ten days doing duty in the fore-top, and it was the
intention of Mr. Handstone, to which the captain seemed not
disinclined, to have given me a flogging at the gun, as a gratuity
for losing the men. This part of the sentence, however, was
not executed. I continued a member of the midshipmen's mess,
but was not allowed to enter the berth ; my meals were sent to
me, and I took them solus on my chest. The youngsters spoke
to m", but only by str\Tlth, being afraid of the oldsters, who had
sent uie to the most ligid Coventry.

28 FRANK MILDMAY.

My situation in the fore-top was nearly nominal. I went aloft
when the hands were called, or in my watch, and amused myself
with a book until we went below, unless there was any Httle duty
for me to do which did not appear above my strength. -'^The men
doated on me as a martyr in their cause, and deli_ghted in giving"
me every instruction in the art of knotting and splicing, rig^ging,
reefing, furling, &c., (fee; and I honestly own that the haj^pies;
hours I had passed in that ship were during my seclusion among
these honest tars.

Whether my enemies discovered this or not, I cannot say ;
but shortly after our arrival I was sent for by the captain into his
own cabin, where I received a lecture on my misconduct, botk
as to m}' supposed irritable and quarrelsome disposition, and also
for losing the men out of the boat. "In other respects,'* he
added, " your punishment would have been much more severe
but for your general good conduct ; and I have no doubt, from this
little well-timed severity, that you will in future conduct yourself
with more propriety. I therefore release you from the disgraceful
situation in which you are placed, and allow you to return to your
duty on the quarter-deck."

The tears which no brutality or ill-treatment could wring from
me, now flowed in abundance, and it was some minutes before
I could recover myself sufficiently to thank him for his kindness,
and to explain the cause of my disgrace. I told him, that since
I had joined the ship I had been treated like a dog ; that he alone
had been ignorant of it, and that he alone had behaved to me
with humanity. I then related all my sufferings, from the moment
of that fatal glass of wine up to the time I was speaking. I did
not conceal the act of cutting down Murphy's hammock, nor of
throwing the candlestick at his head. I assured him I never gave
any provocation; that I never struck without being first stricken.
I said, moreover, that I would never receive a blow or be called
an improper name without resenting it, as far as I was able. It
was my nature, and if killed, I could not help it. " Several men
have run away," said I, *' since I came into the ship, and before,
and the officers under whose charge they were, only received a
reprimand, while I, who have just come to sea, have been treated
with the greatest and most degrading severity.

The captain listened to my defence with attention, and I
thought seemed much struck with it. I afterwards learnt that
Mr. Handstone had received a reprimand for his harsh treatment
of me; he observed, that I should one day turn out a shining
character, or go to the devil. » It appeared pretty evident to me,
that however I might have roused the pride and resentment of the
senior members of the mess by my resistance to arbitrary power,
that 1 had gained some powerful friends^ among whom was the

FRANK MILDMAY. 29

captain. Many of the officers admired that dogged, *' don't
care " spirit of resistance which I so perseveringly displayed, and
were forced to admit that I had right on my side. I soon per-
ceived the change of mind by the frequency of invitations to the
cabin and gun-room tables. The youngsters were proud to
receive me again openly as their associate ; but the oldsters
regarded me with a jealousy and suspicion like that of an un-
popular government to a favourite radical leader.

I soon arranged with the boys of my own age a plan of resis-
tance, or rather of self-defence, which proved of greai- importance
in our future warfare. One or two of them had nerve enough to
follow it up : the others made fair promises, but fell off in
the hour of trial. My code consisted of only two maxims :
the first was always to throw a bottle, decanter, candlestick,
knife, or fork at the head of any person who should strike one
of us, if the assailant should appear too strong to encounter
in fair fight. The second was, never to allow ourselves to
be unjustly defrauded of our rights ; to have an equal share of
what we paid equally for ; and to gain by artifice that which was
withheld by force.

I explained to them that by the first plan we should ensure
civility at least ; for as tyrants are generally cowards, they
would be afraid to provoke that anger which in some unlucky
moment might be fatal to them, or maim them for life. By the
second, I promised to procure them an equal share in the good
things of this life, the greater part of which the oldsters
engrossed to themselves : in this latter we were much more
unanimous than the former, as it incurred less personal risk. I
was the projector of all the schemes for forage, and was generally

successful.

At length we sailed to join the fleet off Cadiz, under the

command of Lord Nelson. I shall not pretend to describe the
passage down Channel and across the Bay of Biscay. I was
sea-sick as a lady in a Dover packet, until inured to the
motion of the ship by the merciless calls to my duties aloft, or
to relieve the deck in my watch. We^eached our station, and
joined the immortal Nelson but a few hours before that battle in
which he lost his life and saved his country. The history of that
important day has been so often and so circumstantially related,
that I cannot add much more to the stock on hand. I am only
astonished, seeing the confusion and invariable variableness of
a sea-fight, how so much could be known. One observation
occurred to me then, and I have thought of it ever since with
redoubled conviction ; this was, that the admiral, after the battle
began, was no admiral at all ; he could neither see nor be seen ;
he could take no advantage of the enemy's weak points or

C

30 FRANK MILDMAY.

defend his own ; his ship, the Victory, one of our finest three-
deckers, was, in a manner, tied up alongside a French eighty-
gun ship.

These observations I have read in some naval work, and in
my mind they receive ample confirmation. I could not help
feeling an agony of anxiety (young as I was) for my country's
glory, when I saw the noble leaders of our two lines exposed
to the united fire of so many ships. I thought Nelson was too
much exposed, and think so now. Experience has confirmed
what youthful fancy suggested; the enemy's centre should have
been inacadatnized by our seven three-deckers, some of which,
by being placed in the rear, had little share in the action ;
and but for the intimidation which their presence afforded,
might as well have been at Spithead I mean no reflection on
the officers who had charge of them : accidental concurrence of
light wind and station in the line, threw them at such a distance
from the enemy as kept them in the back ground the greater
part of the day. Others, again, were in enviable situations,
but did not, as far as I could learn from the officers, do quite
so much as they might have done. This defect on our part
being met by equal disadvantages, arising from nearly similar
causes, on that of the enemy, a clear victory remained to us.
The aggregate of the British navy is brave and good; and we
must admit that in this day ** when England expected every man
to do his duty,*' there were but few who disappointed their
country's hope.

When the immortal signal was communicated, I shall never,
no never, forget the electric effect it produced through the fleet,
I can compare it to nothing so justly as to a match laid to a
long train of gunpowder ; and, as Englishmen are the same, the
same feeling, the same enthusiasm, was displayed in every ship;
tears ran down the cheeks of many a noble fellow when the
affecting sentence was made known. It recalled every past
enjoyment, and filled the mind with fond anticipations which,
with many, were never, alas ! to be realised. They went down
to their guns without confusion ; and a cool, deliberate courage
from that moment seemed to rest on the countenance of every
man I saw.

My captain, though not in the line, was no niggard in the
matter of shot, and though he had no real business to come
within range until called by signal, still he thought it his duty to
be as near io our ships engaged as possible, in order to afford
them assistance when required. I was stationed at the foremost
guns on the main deck, and the ship cleared for action ; and
though on a comparatively small scale, I cannot imagine a, more
solemn, grand, or impressive sight, th*n a ship prepared as ours

FRANK MILDMAY. 31

was on that occasion. Her noble tier of guns, in a line gently
curving out towards the centre ; the tackle laid across the deck ;
the shot and wads prepared in ample store (round, grape, and
canister) ; the powder boys, each with his box full, seated on it
with perfect apparent indifference as to the approaching conflict.
The captains of guns, with their priming boxes buckled round
their waists ; the locks fixed upon the guns ; the lanyards laid
around them ; the officers, with their swords drawn, standing
by their respective divisions.

The quarter-deck was commanded by the captain in person,
assisted by the first lieutenant, the lieutenant of marines, a
party of small-arm men, with the mate and midshipmen, and a
portion of seamen to attend the braces and fight the quarter-
deck guns. The boatswain was on the forecastle ; the gunner
in the magazine, to send up a supply of powder to the guns ;
the carpenter watched and reported, from time to time, the
depth of water in the well ; he also walked round the wings or
vacant spaces between the ship's side and the cables, and other
stores. He was attended by his mates, who were provided
with shot-plugs, oakum, and tallow, to stop any shot-holes
which might be made. The surgeon was in the cock-pit with
his assistants. The knives, saws, tourniquets, sponges, basins,
wine and water, were all displayed and ready for the first
unlucky patient that might be presented. This was more awful
to me than anything I had seen. " How soon/' thought I,
"may I be stretched, mangled and bleeding, on this table,
and have occasion for all the skill and all the instruments I
now see before me ! *' I turned away, and endeavoured to forget
it all.

As soon as the fleet bore up to engage the enemy, we did
the same, keeping as near as we could to the admiral, whose
signals we were ordered to repeat. I was particularly astonished
with the skilful manner in which this was done. It was wonderful
to see how instantaneously the same flags were displayed at
our mast-heads as had been hoisted by the admiral ; and the
more wonderful this appeared to me, since his flags were rolled
up in round balls, which were not broken loose until they had
reached the mast-head, so that the signal officers of a repeater
had to make out the number of the flag during its passage aloft
in disguise. This was done by the power of good tesc-i^copes,
and from habit, and sometimes by anticipation of the signal that
would be next made.

The reader may, perhaps, not be aware that among civilized
nations, in naval warfare, ships of the line never fire at frigates,
unless they provoke hostility by interposing between belligerent

ships, or firing into them, as was the case in the Nile, when Sti:

32 FRANK MILDMAY.

James Sautnarez, in the Orion^ was under the necessity of
sinking the Artemise, which he did with one broadside, as a
reward for her temerity. Under this fax in bellum sort of
compact we might have come off scot-free, had we not partaken
very liberally of the shot intended for large ships, which did
serious damage among our people.

The two British lines running down parallel to each other,
and nearly perpendicular to the crescent line of the combined
fleets, was the grandest sight that was ever witnessed. As soon
as our van was within gun-shot of the enemy, they opened their
fire on the Royal Sovereign and the Victory ; but when the first-
named of these noble ships rounded to, under the stern of the
Santa Anna^ and the Victory had very soon after laid herself on
board the Redoubtable^ the clouds of smoke enveloped both
fleets, and little was to be seen except the falling of masts,
and here and there, as the smoke blew away, a ship totally
dismasted.

One of these proved to be English, and our captain, seeing her
between two of the enemy, bore up to take her in tow : at the
same time, one of our ships of the line opened a heavy fire on one
of the French line-of-battle ships, unluckily situated in a right
line between us, so that the shot which missed the enemy
sometimes came on board of us. I was looking out of the bow
port at the moment that a shot struck our ship on the stern
between wind and water. It was the first time I had ever seen
the effect of a heavy shot ; it made a great splash, and, to me, as
I then thought, a very unusual noise, throwing a great deal of
water in my face. 1 very naturally started back, as I believe
many a brave fellow has done. Two of the seamen quartered at
my guns laughed at me. I felt ashamed, and resolved to show
no more such weakness.

This shot was very soon succeeded by some others not quite so
harmless : one came into the bow port, and killed the two men
who had witnessed my trepidation. My pride having been hurt
that these men should have seen me flinch, I will own that I was
secretly pleased when I saw them removed beyond the reach of
human interrogation. It would be difficult to describe my feelings
on this occasion. Not six weeks before, I was the robber of hen-
roosts and gardens — the hero of a horse-pond, ducking an usher
— now suddenly, and almost without any previous warning or
reflection, placed in the midst of carnage, and an actor of one of
those grand events by which the fate of the civilized world was to
be decided.

A quicker circulation of blood, a fear of immediate death, and
a still greater fear of shame, forced me to an involuntary and
frequent change of position ; and it required some time, and the

FfeANK MILDMAY. 33

best powers of intellect, to reason- myself into that frame of mind
in which I could feel as safe and as much unconcerned as if we
had been in harbour. : To this state I at last did attain, and soon
felt ashamed of the perturbation under which I had laboured
before the firing began. I prayed, it is true : but my prayer was
not that of faith, of trust, or of hope — I prayed only for safety
from imminent personal danger; and my orisons consisted of one
or two short, pious ejaculations, without a thought of repentance
for the past or amendment for the future.

But when we had once got fairly into action, I felt no more
of this, and beheld a poor creature cut in two by a shot with
the same indifference that at any other time I should have seen
a butcher kill an ox. Whether my heart was bad or not, I
cannot say ; bat I certainly felt my curiosity was gratified more
than my feelings were shocked, when a raking shot killed
seven and wounded three more. I was sorry for the men, and,
for the world, would not have injured them ; but I had a
philosophic turn of mind; I liked to judge of causes and

effects ; and I was secretly pleased at seeing the effect of a
raking shot.

Towards four P.M. the firing began to abate, the smoke
cleared away, and the calm sea became rufSed with an increasing
breeze. The two hostile fleets were quiet spectators of each
other's disasters. We retained possession of nineteen or twenty
sail of the line. Some of the enemy's ships were seen running
away into Cadiz ; while four others passed to windward of our
fleet, and made their escape. A boat going from our ship to
one near us, I jumped into her, and learned the death of Lord
Nelson, which I had communicated to the captain, who, after
paying a tribute to the memory of that great man, looked at
me with much complacency. I was the only youngster that
had been particularly active, and he immediately despatched
me with a message to a ship at a short distance. The first
lieutenant asked if he should not send an officer of more im-
portance. "No,'* said the captain, *' he shall go; the boy
knows very well what he is about 1 " and away I went, not a little
proud of the confidence placed in me.

Further details of this eventful day are to be found recorded
in our national histories ; it will, therefore, be needless to repeat
them here. When I met my messmates at supper in the
berth, I was sorry to see Murphy among them. 1 had flat*
tered myself that some fortunate shot would have for ever
divested me of any further care on his account ; but his time was
not come.

*' The devil has had a fine haul to-day ! " said an old master's
mate, as he took up his glass of grog.

34 FRANK MILDMAY.

" Pity you, and some others I could name, had not been in the
net! " thinks I to myself.

"I hope plenty of the lieutenants are bowled out!'* said
another ; *' we shall stand some chance then of a little
promotion I "

When the hands were turned up to muster, the number of
killed amounted to nine, and wounded to thirteen. When
this was made known, there seemed to be a general smile of
congratulation at the number fallen, rather than of their regret
for their loss. The vanity of the officers seemed tickled at
the disproportionate slaughter in a frigate of our size, as
compared to what they had heard the ships of the line had
suffered. «

I attended the surgeon in the steerage, to which place the
wounded were removed, and saw all the amputations per-
formed, without flinching ; when men who had behaved well in
the action fainted at the sight. I am afraid I almost took a
pleasure in observing the operations of the surgeon, without
once reflecting on the pain suffered by the patient. Habit
had now begun to corrupt my mind. I was not cruel by
nature ; I loved the deep investigation of hidden things ; and
this day*s action gave me a very clear insight into the anatomy
of the human frame, which I had seen cut in two by shot,
lacerated by splinters, carved out with knives, and separated
with saws !

Soon after the action, we were ordered to Spithead, with
duplicate despatches. One morning I heard a midshipman
say, "he would do his old father out of a new kit." I inquired
what he meant, was first called a greenhorn for not knowing,
and then had it explained to me. " Don*t you know," said
my instructor, "that after every action there is more canvas,
rope, and paint expended in the warrant-officer's accounts than
were destroyed by the enemy ? "

I assented to this on the credit of the informer, without
knowing whether it was true or false, and he proceeded.
"How are we to have white hammock-clothes, skysail masts,
and all other finery, besides a coat of paint for the ship's sides
every six weeks, if we don't expend all these things in action,
and pretend they were lost overboard, or destroyed ? The
list of defects are given in to the admiral, he signs the demand,
and the old commissioner must come down with the stores,
whether he will or not. I was once in a sloop of war, when a
large forty- four -gun frigate ran on board of us, carried away her
jibboom, and left her large fine-weather jib hanging on our fore-
yard. It was made of beautiful Russia duck, and, to be sure,
didn't we make a gang of white hammock-cloths fore and aft,

fRANK MILDMAY. 35

besides white trousers for the men? Well now, you must know,
that we make U^icle George suffer for the stores, so I mean to
make dad suffer for my traps. I mean to lose my chest overboard,
with all my 'kit,' and return home to him and the old woman
just fit for the fashion/'

" And do you really mean to deceive your father and mother in
that way ? " replied I, with much apparent innocence.

" Do I ? to be sure I do, you fiat. How am I to keep up my
stock, if I don't make the proper use of an action like this that we
have been in? "

I took the hint : it never once occurred to me, that if I had
fairly and candidly stated to my parents that my stock of
clothes were insufficient for my appearance as a gentleman on
the quarter-deck, that they would cheerfully have increased it
to any reasonable extent. But I had been taught artifice and
cunning ; I could tell the truth where I thought it served my
purpose, as well as a lie ; but here I thought deception was a
proof at once of spirit and of merit ; and I resolved to practise it,
if only to raise myself a trifling degree in the estimation of my
unworthy associates, I had become partial to deception from
habit, and preferred exercising my own ingenuity in outwitting my
father, to obtain what I needed by more straightforward and
honourable measures.

The ship needed some repairs, and by the indulgence of the
captain, who was pleased with my conduct, I, who required so
much instruction in the nature and cause of her defects, was
allowed to be absent while they were made good. By this
oversight, I lost all that improvement which I should have
gained by close attention to the unrigging or shipping of the
ship ; the manner of returning her stores ; taking out her
masts and ballast, and seeing her taken into dock ; the shape of
her bottom, and the good or bad qualities which might be
supposed to accelerate or retard her movements. All this was
sacrificed to the impatience of seeing my parents ; to the vain
glory of boasting of the action in which I had been present ;
and, perhaps, of being encouraged to tell lies of things which I
never saw, and to talk of feats which I never performed. I loved
effect ; and I timed the moment of my return to my father's
house (through a correspondence with my sister) to be just as
a large party had sat down to a sumptuous dinner. I had only
been absent three months, it is true ; but it was my first cruize,
and then " I had seen so much, and been in such very interesting
situations." '

^6 tRANK MILDMAY.

CHAPTER IV.

'Twill be time to go home. What shall I say I have done ? It must be
a very plausive invention that carries it. I find my tongue is too fool-hardy.

Shakspeake.

Reaching the well known mansion of my father, I knocked softly
at the front door, was admitted, and without saying a word to the
servant, rushed to the head of the dining-room table, and threw
my arms round ray mother's neck, who only screamed, " Good
heavens, my child ! '* and fell into hysterics. My father, who was
in the very midst of helping his soup, jumped up to embrace meand
assist my mother. The company all rose, like a covey of
partridges ; one lady spoiled a new pink satin gown by a tip of
the elbow from her next neighbour, just as a spoonful of soup had
reached " the rosy portals of her mouth ; ** the little spaniel. Carlo,
set up a loud and incessant bark ; and in one minute the whole
comely arrangement of the feast was converted into anarchy and
confusion.

Order was, however, soon restored : my mother recovered
her composure — my father shook me by the hand — the com-
pany all agreed that I was a very fine, interesting boy — the
ladies resumed their seats, and I had the satisfaction to observe
that my sudden appearance had not deprived them of their
appetites. I soon convinced them that in this particular, at
least, I also was in high training. My midshipman's life had
neither disqualified nor disgusted me with the luxuries of the
table ; nor did I manifest the slightest backwardness or diffidence
when invited by the gentlemen to take wine. I answered every
question with such fluency of speech, and such compound
interest of words, as sometimes caused the propounder to regret
that he had put me to the trouble of speaking.

I gave a very florid description of the fight ; praised some
admirals and captains for their bravery, sneered at others, and
accused a few of right down misconduct. Now and then, by way
of carrying conviction into my auditors' very souls, I rammed
home my charges with an oath, at which my father looked grave,
my mother held up her finger, the gentlemen laughed, and the
lajiies all said with a smile, *' Sweet boy ! — what animation — what
sense — what discernment 1 " Thinks I to myself, "You are as
complete a set of gulls as ever picked up a bit of biscuit ! "

Next morning, while my recent arrival was still warm, I broke
the subject of my chest to my father and mother at breakfast;
indeed, my father, very fortunately for me, began by inquiring how
my stock of clothes held out.

FRANK MILDMAY. 3^

''Bad enough/* said I, as I demolished the third egg, for I
still had a good appetite at breakfast.

" Bad enough ! " repeated my father, " why you were extremely
Well fitted with everything."

"Very true, sir,'* said I; "but then you don't know what a
man-of-war is in clearing for action ; everything not too hot or
too heavy is chucked overboard with' as little ceremony as I
swallow this muffin. ' Whose hat-box is this?' * Mr. Spratt*s,
sir.' * D — n Mr. Spratt, Til teach him to keep his hat-box
safe another time ; over with it ' — and away it went over the lee
gangway. Spratt' s father was a hatter in Bond Street, so we all
laughed."

"And pray, Frank," said my mother, " did your box go in the

same way?"

" It kept company, I assure you. I watched them go astern,
with tears in my eyes, thinking how angry you would be."

"Well, but the chest, Frank, what became of the chest?
You said that the Vandals had some respect for heavy objects,
and yours, I am sure, to my cost, had very considerable specific
gravity."

"That's very true, sir; but you have no notion how much it
was lightened the first day the ship got to sea. I was lying on it
as sick as a whale — the first lieutenant and mate of the lower deck
came down to see if the men's berths were clean ; I and my
Noah's ark, lay slap in the way — * Who have we here?' said
Mr. Handstone. 'Only Mr. Mildmay, and his chest, sir,* said
the sergeant of marines, into whose territory I acknowledged I
had made very considerable incroachments. * Only ! ' repeated
the lieutenant, * I thought it had been one of the big stones for
the new bridge, and the owner of it a drunken Irish hodman.* I
was too sick to care much about what they said."

"You forget your breakfast," said my sister.

" I'll thank you for another muffin, and another cup of coffee,"
said I.

" Poor fellow I" said my mother, "what he must have suf-
fered!"

"Oh! I have not told you half yet, my dear mother; I only
wonder I am alive."

" Alive, indeed I " said my Aunt Julia ; " here, my dear, here
is a small trifle to help you to replenish the stock you have lost
in the service of your country. Noble little fellow ! what should
we do without sailors?"

I pocketed the little donation — it was a ten-pounder ; finished
my breakfast, by adding a slice of ham and half a French roll
to the articles already shipped, and then continued my story.
"The first thing Mr. Handstone said, was, that my chest was

38 FRANK MILDMAY.

too big ; and the next thing he said, was, * tell the carpenter I
want him. Here, Mr. Adze, take this chest; reduce it one foot
in length, and one in height.' * Ay, ay, sir,* said Adze ; 'come,
young gentleman, move olf, and give me your key.' Sick as I
was, I knew remonstrance or prayer were alike useless, so I
crawled off and presented my key to the carpenter, who very
deliberately unlocked, and as expeditiously unloaded all my
treasure. The midshipmen all gathered round. The jars of
preserves and the cakes of ginger-bread which you, my dearest
mother, had so nicely packed up for me, were seized with
greediness, and devoured before my face. One of them thrust
his filthy paw into a pot of black currant jelly, which you gave
me for a sore throat, and held a handful of it to my mouth,
knowing at the same time that I was ready to be sea-sick in
his hand."

*'.I shall never bear the sight of jelly again," said my sister.

i* The nasty brutes ! *' said my aunt.

•^Well," I resumed, *' all my nice things went; and, sick as
I was, I wished them gone ; but when they laughed and spoke
disrespectfully of you, my dear mother, I was ready to fly up and
tear their eyes out."

" Never mind, my dear boy," said my mother, " we will make
all right again."

** So I suppose we must," said my father ; ** but no more jelly
and ginger-bread, if you please, my dear. Proceed with your
story, Frank."

"Well, sir, in half an hour my chest was ready for me again ;
but while they were about it, they might have taken off another
foot, for I found ample space to stow what the plunderers had
left. The preserve jars, being all empty, were given, of course,
to the marines ; and some other heavy articles being handed
away, I was no longer puzzled how to stow them. After this, you
know, sir, we had the action, and then chest and bedding and
all went to the ."

** Do they throw all the chests and bedding overboard on
these occasions ? " said my father, with a cool and steady gaze
in my face, which I had some trouble in facing back again.

*'Yes; always everything that is in the way, and my chest
was in the way, and away it went. You know, sir, I could not
knock down the first lieutenant : they would have hanged me at
the yard-arm,"

** Thank Heaven, you did not, my love," said my mother;
**what has happened can be repaired, but thai could never
have been got over. And your books, what is become of them ? "

** All went in the lump. They are somewhere near the
entrance of the Gut of Gibraltar — all lost except my Bible : I

FRANK MILDMAY. 39

saved that, as I happened to be reading it in my berth the night
before the action."

** Excellent boy ! " exclaimed my mother and aunt both
together; "I am sure he speaks the truth."

" I hope he does," said my father, drily ; " though it must be
owned that these sea-fights, however glorious for Old England,
are very expensive amusements to the parents of young
midshipmen, unless the boys happen to be knocked on the
head."

Whether my father began to smell a rat, or whether he was
afraid of putting more questions, for fear of hearing more fibs,
I know not ; but I was not sorry when the narrative was con-
cluded, and I dismissed with flying colours. To my shame be
it spoken, the Bible that assisted me so much in my mother*s
opinion, had never but once been opened since I had left home,
and that was to examine if there were any bank-notes between
the leaves, having heard of such things being done, merely to
try whether young gentlemen did "search the Scriptures."

My demands were all made good. I believe with the greater
celerity, as I began to grow very tiresome ; my sea manners
were not congenial to the drawing-room. My mother, aunt,
and sister were very different from the females I had been in
the habit of seeing on board the frigate. My oaths and treat-
ment of the servants, male and female, all conspired to recon-
cile the family to my departure. They therefore heard with
pleasure that my leave was expired ; and, having obtained all I
wanted, I did not care one pin how soon I got clear of them ;
so when the coach came to the door, I jumped in, drove to the
Golden Cross, and the next morning rejoined my ship.

I was received with cheerfulness and cordiality by most of
my shipmates, except Murphy and some of his cronies; nor
did one feeling of regret or compunction enter my mind for
the lies and hypocrisy with which I had deceived and cheated
my parents. The reader will probably be aware that except
the circumstance of reducing the size of my chest, and the
seizure and confiscation of my jars and gingerbread, there was
scarcely a vestige of truth in my story. That I had lost most
of my things was quite true ; but they were lost by my own
carelessness, and not by being thrown overboard. After losing
the key of my chest, which happened the day I joined, a rapid
decrease of my stock convinced the first, lieutenant that a much
smaller package might be made of the remainder, and this was
the sole cause of my chest being converted into a raz6e.

My fresh stock of clothes I brought down in a trunk, which I
found very handy, and contrived to keep in better order than I
had formerly done. The money given me to procure more bedding,

40 FRANK MILDMAY.

r

I pocketed : indeed I began to grow cunning, I perceived that
the best-dressed midshipmen had always the most pleasant duties
to perform. I was sent to bring off parties of ladies who came to
visit the ship, and to dine with the captain and officers I had a
tolerably good address, and was reckoned a very handsome boy ;
and though stout of my age, the ladies admitted me to great
freedom, under pretence of my being still a dear little darling of
a middy, and so perfectly innocent in my mind and manners.
The fact is, I was kept in much better order on board my ship
than I was in my father's house — so much for the habit of dis-
cipline; but this was all outside show. My father was a man of
talent, and knew the world, but he knew nothing of the navy; and
when I had got him out of his depth, I served him as I did the
usher : that is I soused him and his company head over heels in
the horse-pond of their own ignorance. Such is the power of local
knowledge and cunning over abstruse science and experience.

So much assurance had I acquired by my recent success in town,
that my self-confidence was increased to an incredible degree.
My apparent candour, impudence, and readiness gave a currency
to the coinings of my brain which far surpassed the dull matter-
of-fact of my unwary contemporaries. Of my boyish days, I have
now almost said enough. The adventures of a midshipman,
during the first three years of his probationary life, might, if fully
detailed, disgust more than amuse, and corrupt more than
they would improve ; I therefore pass on to the age of sixteen,
when my person assumed an outline of which I had great
reason to be proud, since I often heard it the subject oi
encomium among the fair sex, and their award was confirmed
even by my companions.

My mind kept pace with my person in every acquirement save
those of morality and religion. In these, alas ! I became daily
more and more deficient, and for a time lost sight of them alto-
gether. The manly athletic frame and noble countenance with
which I was blessed, served to render me only more like a
painted sepulchre — all was foul within. Like a beautiful snake,
whose poison is concealed under the gold and azure of its
scales, my inward man was made up of pride, revenge, deceit,
and selfishness, and my best talents were generally applied to the
worst purposes.

In the knowledge of my profession I made rapid progress, be-
cause I delighted in it, and because my mind, active and elastic
as my body, required and fed on scientific research. I soon became
an expert navigator and a good practical seaman, and all this I
acquired by my own application. We had no schoolmaster ; and
while the other youngsters learned how to work a common day's
work from the instruction of the older midshipmen, I, who was no

FRANK MILDMAY. 41

favourite with the latter, was rejected from their coteries. I

determined, therefore, to supply the deficiency myself, and this
I was enabled to do by the help of a good education. I had been
well grounded in mathematics, and was far advanced in Euclid
and algebra previous to leaving school : thus I had a vast
superiority over my companions.

The great difficulty was to renew my application to study,
after many months of idleness. This, however, I accomplished,
and after having been one year at sea, kept a good reckoning
and sent in my day's work to the captain. The want of
instruction which I first felt in the study of navigation, proved
in the end of great service to me : I was forced to study more
intensely, and to comprehend the principles on which I founded
my theory, so that I was prepared to prove by mathematical
demonstration, what others could only assert who worked by
*' inspection.'*

The pride of surpassing my seniors, and the hope of exposing
their ignorance, stimulated me to inquiry, and roused me to
application. The books which I had reported lost to my
father, were handed out from the bottom of my chest, and read
with avidity: many others I borrowed from the officers, whom,
I must do the justice to say, not only lent them with cheerful-
ness, but offered me the use of their cabin to study in. Thus
I acquired a taste for reading. I renewed my acquaintance
with the classic authors. Horace and Virgil, licentious, but
alluring, drove me back to the study of Latin, and fixed in my
mind a knowledge of the dead languages, at the expense of my
morals. Whether the exchange were profitable or not, is left
to wiser heads than mine to decide ; my business is with facts
only.

Thus, while the ungenerous malice of the elder midshipmen
thought to have injured me by leaving me in ignorance, they did
me the greatest possible service, by throwing me on my own
resources. I continued on pretty nearly the same terms with my
shipmates to the last. With some of the mess-room officers I was
still in disgrace, and was always disliked by the oldsters in my own
mess ; with the younger midshipmen and the foremast men I was
a favourite. I was too proud to be a tyrant, and the same feeling
prevented my submitting to tyranny. As I increased in strength
and stature, I showed more determined resistance to arbitrary
power : an occasional turn-up with boys of my own size (for the
best friends will quarrel) and the supernumerary midshipmen sent
on board for a passage, generally ended in establishing my
dominion or insuring for me a peaceable neutrality.

I became a scientific pugilist, and now and then took a brush

With an oldster ; and although overpowered, yet I displayed so

42 FRANK MILDMAY.

much prowess, that my enemies became cautious how they
renewed a strug-gle which they perceived became daily more
arduous; till, at last, like the lion's whelp, my play ceased to be
a joke, and I was left to enjoy that tranquillity which few found
it safe or convenient to disturb. By degrees the balance of
power was fairly established, and even Murphy was awed into
civil silence.

In addition to my well known increase in personal strength, I
acquired a still greater superiority over my companions by the ad-
vantage of education ; and this I took great care to make them
feel on every occasion. I was appealed to in all cases of literary
disputation, and was, by general consent, the umpire of the
steerage. I was termed ''good company,*' — not always to the
advantage of the possessor of such a talent ; for it often tends, as
it did with me, to lead into very bad company, I had a fine voice,
and played on one or two instruments. This frequently procured
me invitations to the gun-room, and excuses from duty, together
with more wine or grog than was of service to me, and conversation
that I had better not have heard.

We were ordered on a cruise to the coast of France ; and as the

juniorport-admiralhadaspite against our captain, he swore by >

that go we should, ready or not ready. Our signal was made to
weigh while lighters of provisions and the powder-hoy with our
powder were lying alongside — the quarter-deck guns all adrift,
and not even mounted. Gun after gun from the Royal William
was repeated by the Gladlalor, the flag-ship of the harbour-
admiral, and with our signal to part company.

The captain, not knowing how the story might travel up by
telegraph to London, and conscious, perhaps, that he had left
a little too much to the first lieutenant, '*tore the ship away by
the hair of the head" — unmoored, bundled everything in upon
deck out of the lighters — turned all the women out of the ship,
except five or six of the most abandoned — and, with a strong
northerly wind, ran down to Yarmouth Roads, and through the
Needles to sea, in a state of confusion and disaster which I hope
never to see again.

The rear-admiral. Sir Hurricane Humbug, stood on the plat-
form looking at us (I was afterwards told), and was heard to ex-
claim, " D — n his eyes " (meaning our captain), " there he goes
at last 1 I was afraid that that fellow would have grounded on his
beef bones before we should have got him out ! "

" The more haste the less speed," is oftener true in naval affairs
than in any other situation of life. With us it had iicarly proved
fatal to the ship. Had we met with an enemy, we must either
have disgraced the flag by running away, or been taken. No
sooner cleg.r of the Needles than nig-ht came on, and with it 4

FRANK MILDMAY. 43

heavy gale of wind at north-north-west. The oflScers and men
were at work till four in the morning, securing the boats, booms,
and anchors, clearing the decks of provisions, and setting up the
lower rigging, which, by the labour of the ship, had begun to
stretch to an alarming degree; by great exertion this' was
accomplished, and the guns secured before the gale had increased
to a hurricane.

About nine the -next morning, a poor marine, a recruit from
Portsmouth, unfortunately fell overboard ; and though many brave
fellows instantly jumped into one of the quarter-boats, and
begged to be lowered down to save him, the captain, who was
a cool calculator, thought the chance of losing seven men
was greater than that of saving one, so the poor fellow was
left to his fate. The ship, it is true, was hove to ; but she
drifted to leeward much faster than the unfortunate man could
swim, though he was one of the best swimmers I ever beheld.

It was heart-breaking to see the manly but ineffectual exertions
made by this gallant youth to regain the ship ; but all his powers
only served to prolono^ his misery. We saw him nearly a mile to
windward, at one moment riding on the top of the mountainous
wave, at the next, sinking into the deep valley between, till at
last we saw him no more 1 His sad fate was long deplored in the
ship. I thought at the time that the captain was cruel in not
sending a boat for him ; but I am now convinced, from experience,
that he submitted only to hard necessity, and chose the lesser evil

of the two.

The fate of this young man was a serious warning to me. I had
become from habit so extremely active, and so fond of displaying
my newly-acquiredgymnastics, called by the sailors ** sky-larking,* '
that my speedy exit was often prognosticated by the old quarter-
masters, and even by the officers. It was clearly understood that
I was either to be drowned or was to break my neck ; for the
latter I took my chance pretty fairly, going up and down the
rigging like a monkey. Few of the topmen could equal me in
speed, still fewer surpass me in feats of daring activity. I could
run along the topsail yards out to the yard-arm, go from one mast
to the other by the stays, or down on deck in the twinkling of an
eye by the topsail halyards ; and, as I knew myself to be an ex-
pert swimmer, I cared little about the chance of being drowned ;
but when I witnessed the fate of the poor marine, who I saw could
swim as well if not better than myself, I became much more
cautious. I perceived that there might be situations in which
swimming could be of no use ; and however beloved I might have
been by the sailors, it was evident that, even if they had the in-
clination, they might not always have the power to relieve me;

44 FRANK MILDMAY.

from this time, I became much more guarded in my movements
aloft .

A circumstance occurred shortly after we got to sea which
afforded me infinite satisfaction. Murphy, whose disposition
led him to bully every one whom he thought he could master,
fixed a quarrel on a very quiet, gentlemanly young man, a
supernumerary midshipman, who had come on board for a
passage to his own ship, then down in the Bay of Biscay. The
young man, resenting this improper behaviour, challenged
Murphy to fight, and the challenge was accepted ; but as the
supernumerary was engaged to dine with the captain, he pro-
posed that the meeting should not take place till after dinner,
not wishing to exhibit a black eye at the captain* s table. This
was considered by Murphy as an evasion ; and he added further
insult by saying that he supposed his antagonist wanted Dutch
courage, and that if he did not get wine enough in the cabin, he
would not fight at all.

The high-spirited youth made no reply to this insolence ; but,
naving dressed himself, went up to dinner ; that over, and after
the muster at quarters, he called Mr. Murphy into the steerage,
and gave him as sound a drubbing as he ever received in his life.
The fight, or set-to, lasted only a quarter of an hour, and the
young supernumerary displayed so much science, and such a
thorough use of his fists, as to defy the brutal force of his oppo-
nent, who could not touch him, and who was glad to retreat to
his berth, followed by the groans and hisses of all the midshipmen,
in which I most cordially joined. After so clear a proof of the
advantages of the science of self-defence, I determined to acquire
it; and, with the young stranger for my tutor, I soon became a
proficient in the art of boxing, and able to cope with Murphy and
his supporters

There was a part of my duty which, I am free to confess, I
hated : this was keeping watch at night. I loved sleep, and,
after ten o'clock, I could not keep my eyes open. Neither the
buckets of water which were so liberally poured over me by the
midshipmen, under the facetious appellation of "blowing the
grampus," nor any expostulation or punishments inflicted on
me by the first lieutenant, could rouse my dormant energies
after the first half of the watch was expired. I was one of the
most determined votaries of Somnus ; and for his sake endured
every sort of persecution. The first lieutenant took me into his
watch, and tried every means, both of mildness and coercion,
to break me of this evil habit. I was sure, however, to escape
from him, and to conceal myself in some hole or corner, where
I slept out the remainder of the watch ; and the next morning
I was as regularly mast-headed, to do penance during the greater

FRANK MILDMAY. 45

part of the day for my deeds of darkness. I believe that of the
first two years of my servitude, one-half of my waking hours, at
least, were passed aloft.

I took care, however, to provide myself with books, and, on the
whole, was perhaps better employed than I should have been in
my berth below. Handstone, though a martinet, was a gentleman ;
and as he felt a great interest in the young officers in the ship, so
he took much pains in the instruction and improvement of them.
He frequently expostulated with me on the great impropriety of
my conduct ; my answer invariably was, that I was as sensible
of it as he could be, but that I could not help it ; that I deserved
all the punishment I met with, and threw myself entirely on his
mercy. He used frequently to call me over to the weather side
of the deck, -when he would converse with me on any topic which
he thought might interest or amuse me. Finding I was tolerably
well read in history, he asked my opinion, and gave me his own
with great good sense and judgment ; but such was the irresistible
weight of my eyelids, that I used, when he was in the midst of
a long dissertation, to slip down the gangway-ladder, and leave
him to finish his discourses to the wind.

Now, when this occurred, I was more severely punished than
on any other occasion ; for, to the neglect of duty, I added
contempt both of his rank and the instruction he was offering to
me. His wrath was also considerably increased when he only
discovered my departure by the tittering of the other midshipmen
and the quartermaster at the conn.

One evening I completed my disgrace with him, though a
great deal might be said in my own favour. He had sent me
to the fore-topmast head, at seven o*clock in the morning, and
very unfeelingly, or forgetfully, kept me there- the whole day.
When he went off deck to his dinner, I came down into the top,
made a bed for myself in one of the top-gallant studding sails,
and, desiring the man who had the look-out to call me before
the lieutenant was likely to come on deck, I very quietly began
to prepare a sacrifice to my favourite deity, Somnus ; but as the
look-out man did not see the lieutenant come up, I was caught
napping just at dusk, when the lieutenant came on deck and
did me the honour to remember where he had left me. Looking
at the fore-topmast head, he called me down.

Like Milton's devils, who were "found sleeping by one they
dread," up I sprung, and regained my perch by the topsail-tie,
supposing, or rather hoping, that he would not see me before
the mast, in the obscurity of the evening ; but he was too lynx-
eyed, and had not presence of mind enough not to see what he
should not have seen. He called to the three men in the top,

and inquired where I was ? They rephed at the mast-head.

46 FRANK MILDMAV.

"What!" exclaimed Handstone, with an oath ; "did I not see
him this moment go up by the topsail-tie ? "

"No, sir/' said the men; "he is now asleep at the mast-
head."

"Come down here, you lying rascals, every one of you," said
the lieutenant, " and I'll teach you to speak the truth 1 "

I, who had by this time quietly resumed my station, was
ordered down along with them ; and we all four stood on the
quarter-deck, while the following interrogations were put to us : — ■

"Now, sir," said the first lieutenant to the captain of the top,
" how dare you tell me that that young gentleman was at the
mast-head, when I myself saw him ' shining ' up by the topsail-
tie ? "

I was sorry for the men, who, to save me, had got themselves
into jeopardy ; and I was just going to declare the truth, and
take the whole odium upon myself, when, to my utter astonish-
ment, the man boldly answered, " He was at the mast-head, sir,
upon my honour."

"Your honour!" cried the lieutenant, with contempt; then,
turning to the other men, he put the same question to them
both in succession, and received the same positive answers ; so
that I really began to think I had been at the mast-head all
the time, and had been dreaming I was in the top. At last,
turning to me, he said, " Now, sir, I ask you on your honour,
as an of5cer and a gentleman, where were you- when I first
hailed?"

" At the mast-head, sir," said I.

" Be it so," he replied ; " as you are an officer and a gentleman,
I am bound to believe you." Then turning on his heels, he
walked away in a greater rage than 1 ever remember to have
seen him.

I plainly perceived that I was not believed, and that I had
lost his good opinion. Yet, to consider the case fairly and
impartially, how could I have acted otherwise ? I had been
much too long confined to the mast-head— as long as a man
might take to go from London to Bath in a stage-coach ; I had
lost all my meals ; and these poor fellows, to save me from
further punishment, had voluntarily exposed themselves to a
flogging at the gangway by telling a barefaced falsehood in my
defence. Had I not supported them, they would certainly
have been flogged, and I should have lost myself with every
person aboard ; I therefore came to that paradoxical conclusion
on the spot, namely, that, as a man of honour and a gentleman,
I was bound to tell a lie in order to save these poor men from a
cruel punishment.

I am sensible that this is a case to lay before the bench of

FRANK MILDMAY. 47

bishops ; and ti*«4^gh I never pretended to the constancy of a
martyr, had the consequences been on myself alone, I should
have had no hesitation in speaking the truth. The lieutenant
was to blame, first, by too great a severity ; and, secondly, by
too rigid an inquiry into a subject not worth the trouble.
Still my conscience smote me that I had done wrong ; and
when the rage of the lieutenant had abated, so as to insure the
impunity of the men, I took the earliest opportunity of explain-
ing to him the motives for my conduct, and the painful situa-
tion in which I stood. He received my excuses coldly, and we
never were friends again.

Our captain, who was a dashing sort of a fellow, contrived to
brush up the enemy's quarters, on the coast of France, On one
of our boat expeditions, I contrived to slip away with the rest ; we
landed, and surprised a battery, which we blew up, and spiked the
guns. The French soldiers ran for their lives, and we plundered
the huts of some poor fishermen. I went in with the rest, in hopes
of finding plunder, and for my desserts caught a Tartar. A large
skate lay with its mouth open, into which I thrust my fore-finger,
to drag him away; the animal was not dead, and closing his jaws,
divided my finger to the bone — this was the only blood spilt on the
occasion.

Though guilty myself, I was sorry to see the love of plunder
prevail so extensively among us. The sailors took away articles
utterly useless to them ; and, after carrying them a certain dis-
tance, threw them down for others equally useless. I have
since often reflected how justly I was punished for my fault,
and how needlessly we inflicted the horrors of war on those
inoffensive and unhappy creatures. Our next attempt was of
a more serious nature, and productive of still greater calamity
to the unoffending and industrious, the usual victims of war,
while the instigators are reposing in safety on their down
beds.

CHAPTER V.

My life is spanned already ;
* * * * *

Go with me, like good angels, to ray end.

"Henry VIII."

Danger, like an agiie, subtly taints
Even then when we sit idly in the sun,

" Tkoilus and Cressida."

I HAD never been able to regain the confidence and esteem
of the first lieutenant since the unfortunate affair of the mast-
head. He was certainly an excellent and a correct officer, too

* 7

48 FRANK MILDMAY.

mucii so to overlook what he considered a breach of honour. 1
therefore easily reconciled myself to a separation which occurred
very soon after. We chased a ship into the Bay of Arcasson,
when, as was customary, she sought safety under a battery;
and the captain, according to our custom, resolved to cut her
out. For this purpose the boats were manned and armed, and
every preparation made for the attack on the following morning*
The command of the expedition was given to the first lieutenant,
who accepted of it with cheerfulness, and retired to his bed in
high spirits, with the anticipation of the honour and profit which
the dawn of day would heap upon him- He was proverbially
brave and cool in action, so that the seamen followed him with
confidence as to certain victory. Whether any ill-omened dreams
had disturbed his rest, or whether any reflections on the diflS.cult
and dangerous nature of the service had alarmed him, I could not
tell ; but in the morning we all observed a remarkable change in
his deportment. His ardour was gone ; he walked the deck with
a slow and measured pace, apparently in deep thought ; and
contrary to his usual manner, was silent and melancholy,
abstracted, and inattentive to the duties of the ship.

The boats prepared for the service were manned ; the
officers had taken their seats in them ; the oars were tossed
up ; the eyes of the young warriors beamed with animation,
and we waited for Mr. Handstone, who still walked the deck,
absorbed in his own reflections. He was at length recalled to
a sense of his situation by the captain, who in a tone of voice
more than usually loud, asked him if he intended to take the
command of the expedition? He replied, "Most certainly;'*
and, with a firm and animated step, crossed the quarter-deck,
and went into his boat.

I, following, seated myself by his side ; he looked at me with
a foreboding indifference; had he been in his usual mood, he
would have sent me to some other boat. We had a long pull
before we reached the object of our intended attack, which we
found moored close in shore, and well prepared for us. A
broadside of grape-shot was the first salute we received. It
produced the same effect on our men as the spur to a fiery
steed. We pulled alongside, and began to scramble up in the
best manner we could. Handstone in an instant regained all
his wonted animation, cheered his men, and with his drawn
sword in his hand, mounted the ship's side, while our men at the
same time poured in volleys of musketry, and then followed their
intrepid leader.

In our boat, the first alongside, eleven men, out of twenty-
four, lay killed or disabled. Disregarding these, the lieutenant
Bprang up, I followed close to him ; he leaped from the bul-

FRANK MILDMAY. 49

wark in upon her deck, and before I could lift my cutlass in
his defence, fell back upon me, knocked me down in his fall,
and expired in a moment. He had thirteen musket-balls in his
chest and stomach.

I had no time to disengage myself before I was trampled on^
and nearly suffocated by the pressure of my shipmates, who,
burning to gain the prize, or to avenge our fall, rushed on with
the most undaunted bravery. I was supposed to be dead, and
treated accordingly, my poor body being only used as a stop
for the gangway, wher^the ladder was unshipped. There I
lay fainting with the /pressure, and nearly suffocated with the
blood of my brave leader, on whose breast my face rested, witlv
my hands crossed over the back of my head, to save my skull,
if possible, from the heels of my friends and the swords of my
enemies ; and while reason held her seat, I could not help
thinking that I was just as well where I was, and that a change
of position might not be for the better. About eight minutes
decided the affair, though it certainly did seem to me, in my then
unpleasant situation, much longer. Before it was over I had
fainted, and before I regained my senses the vessel was under
weigh, and out of gunshot from the batteries.

The first moments of respite from carnage were employed in
examining the bodies of the killed and wounded. I was num-
bered among the former, and stretched out between the guns
by the side of the first lieutenant and the other dead bodies.
A fresh breeze blowing through the ports revived me a little,
but, faint and sick, I had neither the power nor inclination to
move ; my brain was confused ; I had no recollection of what
had happened, and continued to lie iiva sort of stupor, until the
prize came alongside of the frigate, and I was roused by the
cheers of congratulation and victory from those who had remained
on board.

A boat instantly brought the surgeon and his assistants to
inspect the dead and assist the living. Murphy came along with
them. He had not been of the boarding party ; and seeing my
supposed lifeless corpse, he gave it a slight kick, saying, at the
same time, *' Here is a young cock that has done crowing ! Well,
for a wonder, this chap has cheated the gallows.*'

The sound of the fellow's detested voice was enough to recall
me from the grave, if my orders had been signed: I faintly
exclaimed, *' You are a liar ! ** which, even with all the melan-
choly scene around us, produced a burst of laughter at his ex-
pense. I was removed to the ship, put to bed, and bled, and was
soon able to narrate the particulars of my adventure ; but I
continued a long while dangerously ill.
The soliloquy of Murphy over my supposed dead body, an4

50 FRANK MILDMAY.

my laconic reply, were the cause of much merriment in the ship .
the midshipmen annoyed him by asserting- that he had saved
my life, as nothing- but his hated voice could have awoke me from
my sleep of death The fate of the first lieutenant was justly
deplored by all of us, though I cannot deny my Christian-like
acquiescence in the will of Providence in this as well as on
a former occasion, when the witnesses of my weakness had
been removed for ever out of my way. As I saw it was im-
possible to regain his good opinion, I thought it was quite as
well that we should part company. That he had a strong pre-
sentiment of his death was proved ; and though I had often
heard these instances asserted, I never before had it so clearly
brought home to my senses.

The prize was called U Aimable yuUej laden with coffee, cot-
ton, and indigo ; mounted fourteen guns ; had, at the com-
mencement of the action, forty-seven men, of whom eight were
killed, and sixteen wounded. The period of our return into
port, according to our orders, happened to coincide with this
piece of good fortune, and we came up to Spithead, where our
captain met with a hearty welcome from the admiral. Having
delivered his " butcher's bill,'* z.e. the list of killed and wounded,
together with an account of our defects, they were sent up to
the Admiralty; and, by return of post, we were ordered to fit
foreign : and although no one on board, not even the captain,
was supposed to know our destination, the girls on the Point
assured us it was the Mediterranean ; and this turned out to be
the fact.

A few days only were spent in hurried preparation, during
which I continued to write to my father and mother. In return
I received all I required, which was a remittance in cash. This I
duly acknowledged by a few lines as the ship was unmooring. We
sailed, and soon after arrived without accident at Gibraltar, where
we found general orders for any ship that might arrive from
England, to proceed and join the admiral at Malta. In a few
hours our provisions and water were complete ; but we were not in
so much haste to arrive at Malta as we were to quit Gibraltar —
hugging the Spanish coast, in hopes of picking up something to
insure us as hearty a welcome at Valetta as we found on our last
return to Portsmouth.

Early on the second morning of our departure we made Gap^
.de Gaete. As the day dawned we discovered four sail in the
wind's eye, and close in shore. The wind was light, and all
sail was made in chase. We gained very little on them for many
hours, and towards evening it fell calm. The boats were then
■ordered to pursue them, and we set off, diverging a little from
£ach other's course, or, as the French would say, deploy e^ to give

FRANK MILDMAY. 51

a better chance of falling in with them. I was in the gig: with
the master, and, that being the best running boat, we soon came
up with one of the feluccas. We fired musketry at her: but
having a light breeze, she would not bring-to. We then took
good aim at the hehnsman, and hit him. The man only shifted
the helm from his right hand to his left, and kept on his course.
We still kept firing at this intrepid fellow, and I felt it was
like wilful murder, since he made no resistance, but steadily
endeavoured to escape.

At length we got close under the stern, and hooke*S on with
our boat-hook. This the Spaniard unhooked, and we dropped
astern, having laid our oars in ; but the breeze dying entirely
away, we again pulled alongside, and took possession. The
poor man was still at the helm, bleeding profusely. We offered
him every assistance, and asked why he did not surrender
sooner. He repHed that he was an old Castilian. Whether
he meant that an earlier surrender would have disgraced him,
or that he contemplated, from his former experience, a chance
of escape to the last moment, I cannot tell. Certain it is that
no one ever behaved better ; and I felt that I would have given
all I possessed to have healed the wounds of this patient, meek,
and undaunted old man, who uttered no complaint, but sub-
mitted to his fate with a magnanimity which would have done
credit to Socrates himself. He had received four musket-balls
in his body, and, of course, survived his capture but a very few
hours.

We found, to our surprise, that this vessel, with the three
others, one of which was taken by another of our boats, were
from Lima. They were single-masted, about thirty tons burthen,
twelve men each, and were laden with copper, hides, wax, and
cochineal, and had been out five months. They were bound
to Valentia, from w]iich they were only one day's sail when we
intercepted them. Such is the fortune of war! This gallant
man, after a voyage of incredible labour and difficulty, would
in a few hours have embraced his family, and gladdened their
hearts with the produce of honest industry and successful
enterprise ; when, in a moment, all their hopes were blasted by
our legal murder and robbery ; and our prize-money came to our
pockets with the tears, if not the curses, of the widow and the
orphan !

From some information which the captain obtained in the
prize, he was induced to stand over towards the Balearic Islands.
We made Ivica, and stood past it ; then ran for Palma Bay, in
the island of Majorca; here we found nothing, to our great
disappointment, and continued our course round the island.

An event occurred here, so singular as scarcely to be credible j

S2 FRANK MILDMAY.

but the fact is well attested, as there were others who witnessed
it beside myself. The water was smooth, and the day remarkably
fine ; we were distant from the shore more than a mile and a
quarter, when the captain, wishing to try the range of the main-
deck guns, which were long eighteen-pounders, ordered the
gunner to elevate one of them, and fire it towards the land.
The gunner asked whether he should point the gun at any
object, w iV man was seen walking on the white sandy beach, and
as there did not appear to be the slightest chance of hitting
him, for he only looked like a speck, the captain desired the
gunner to fire at him ; he did so, and the man fell. A herd of
bullocks at this moment was seen coming out of the woods, and
the boats were sent with a party to shoot some of them for the
ship's company.

When we landed we found that the ball had cut the poor
man in two ; and what made the circumstance more particularly
interesting was that he was evidently a man of consequence.
He was well dressed, had on black breeches and silk stockings ;
he was reading Ovid's Metamorphoses, and still grasped the
book, which I took out of his hand.

We have often heard of the miraculous powers ascribed to a
chance shot, but never could we have supposed that this devilish
ball could have gone so far, or done so much mischief. We
buried the remains of the unfortunate gentleman in the sand;
and having selected two or three bullocks out of the herd, shot
them, skinned and divided them into quarters, loaded our boat,
and returned on board. I had taken the book out of the hand
of the deceased, and from his neck a small miniature of a
beautiful female. The brooch in his shirt I also brought away;
and when I gave an account to the captain of what had
happened, I offered him these articles. He returned them all
to me, desired me to' keep them until I could see any of the
friends of the deceased, and appeared so much distressed at
the accident, that we never mentioned it afterwards ; and in
the course of the time we were together, it was nearly forgotten.
The articles remained in my possession unnoticed for many
years .

Two days after, we fell in with a vessel of suspicious appear-
ance; and it being calm, the boats were sent in chase. They
found her, on their approach, to be a xebeque, under French
colours ; but these were very soon hauled down, and showed
no others. As we came within hail, they told us to keep off, and
that if we attempted to board they should fire into us. This
was not a threat likely to deter a British officer, and particularly
such fire-eaters as ours. So to it we went, and a desperate
struggle ensued, the numbers being nearly equal on both sides ;

FRANK MILDMAY. 53

but they had the advantage of their own deck and bulwarks.
We got on board, however, and in a few minutes gained
possession, with a loss on our side, of sixteen ; and on that of
our opponejit's of twenty-six killed and wounded. But great
was our sorrow and disappointment when we discovered that
we had shed the blood of our friends, while we had lost our
own. The vessel, it appeared, was a Gibraltar privateer; they
took us for French, our boats being fitted with thoels and
grummets for the oars in the French fashion ; and we supposed
them to be French from their colours and the language in
which they hailed us. In this affair we had three officers killed
or wounded, and some of our best men. The privateer was
manned by a mixed crew of all nations, but chiefly Greeks ; and
although ostensibly with a commission signed by the Governor
of Gibraltar, were no doubt little scrupulous as to the colours

of any vessel they might encounter, provided she was not too
strong for them.

After this unfortunate mistake we proceeded to Malta : the
captain expecting a severe rebuke from his admiral, for his
rashness in sending away his boats to attack a vessel without
knowing her force. Fortunately for him, the admiral was not
there ; and before we met him, the number of prizes we had
taken was found sufficient in his eyes to cover our multitude of
sins, so the affair blew over.

While we lay in Malta Harbour, my friend Murphy fell over-
board one night, just after all the boats were hoisted in ; he
could not swim, and would have been drowned if I had not
jumped overboard and held him up until a boat was lowered
down to our assistance. The officers and ship's company gave
me more credit for this action than I really deserved. To have
saved any person under such circumstances, they said, was a
noble deed ; but to risk my life for a man who had always,
from my first coming into the ship, been my bitterest enemy,
was more than they could have expected, and was undoubtedly
the noblest revenge that I could have taken. But they were
deceived — they knew me not : it was my vanity, and the desire
of oppressing my enemy under a weight of obligation, that
induced me to rush to his rescue ; moreover, as I stood on the
gangway witnessing his struggles for life, I felt that I was about
to lose all the revenge I had so long laid up in store ; in short,
I could not spare him, and only saved him, as a cat does a
mouse, to torment him.

Murphy acknowledged his obligations, and said the terrors
of death were upon him ; but in a few days forgot all I had
done for him, consummated his own disgrace, and raised my
character on the ruins of his own. On some frivolous occasion

54 FRANK MTLDMAY.

he threw a basin of dirty water in my face as I passed through
the steerage ; this was too g-ood an opportunity to gratify my
darling passion I had long watched for an occasion to quarrel
with him ; but as he had been ill during our passage from
Gibraltar to Malta, I could not justify any act of aggression.
He had now recovered, and was in the plentitude of his
strength, and I astonished him by striking the first blow. A
set-to followed ; I brought up all my scientific powers in aid of
my strength and the memory of former injuries. I must do
him the justice to say he never showed more game — but he
had everything to contend for ; if I was beaten I was only where
I was before, but with him the case would have been different.
A fallen t)n*ant has no friends. Stung to madness by the
successful hits I planted in his face, he lost his temper, while I
was cool ; he fought wildly, I stopped all his blows, and paid
them with interest. He stood forty-three rounds, and then gave
in with his eyes bunged up and his face so swollen and so
covered with blood, as not to be known by his friends, if he had
had any.

I had hardly a mark ; most of our midshipmen were absent in
prizes; but the two seniors of our berth, an old master's mate
past promotion, and the surgeon's assistant, who had held my
wrist when I was cobbed, were present as the supporters of Murphy
during the combat. I always determined, whenever I gained a
battle, to follow it up. The shouts of victory resounded in the
berth — the youngsters joined with me in songs of triumph, and
gave great offence to the trio. The young Esculapius, a white-
faced, stupid, pock-marked, unhealthy-looking man, was fool
enough to say that although I had beaten Murphy, I was not to
suppose myself master of the berth. I replied to this only by
throwing a biscuit at his head, as/a shot of defiance ; and, darting
on him before he could get his legs from under the table, I thrust
my fingers into his neckcloth, which I twisted so tightly, that I
held him till he was nearly choked, giving his head, at the same
time, two or three good thumps against the ship's side.

Finding that he grew black in the face, I let him go, and asked
if he required any further satisfaction, to which he replied in the
negative, and from that day he was always dutiful and obedient to
me. The old superannuated mate, a sturdy merchant seaman,
seemed greatly dismayed at the successive defeats of his allies,
and I believe would have gladly concluded a separate peace. He
had never offered to come to the assistance of the doctor, although
appealed to in the most pitiable gestures. This I observed with
secret pleasure, and would the more willingly have given him a
brush, as I saw he was disinclined to make the attempt. I was,
however, determined to be at the head of the mess. At twelve

FRANK MILDMAY. 55

o'clock that night I was relieved from the first watch, and coming
down I found the old mate in a state of beastly intoxication. Thus
he went to his hammock, and fell asleep. While he lay '* dor-
mant/' I took a piece of lunar caustic, which I wetted, and drew
stripes and figures all over his weather-beaten face, increasing
his natural ugliness to a frightful degree, and made him look very
like a New Zealand warrior. The next morning, when he was
making his toilet, my party were all ready prepared for the
eclair cissement. He opened his little dirty chest, and having
strapped an old razor, and made a lather in a wooden soap-box
which bore evident marks of the antique, he placed a triangular
piece of a looking-glass against the reclining lid of the chest,
and began the operation of shaving. His start back with
horror, when he beheld his face, I shall never forget : it out-
did the young Roscius, when he saw the ghost of Hamlet.
Having wetted his forefinger with his toiigue, the old mate tried
to remove the stain of the caustic, but the **d — d spot" still
remained, and we, like so many young imps, surrounded him,
roaring with laughter.

I boldly told him that he bore my marks as well as Murphy and
the doctor; and I added, with a degree of cruel mockery which
might have been spared, that I thought it right to put all my
servants in black to-day. I asked whether he was contented with
the arrangement, or whether he chose to appeal against my decree ;
he signified that he had no more to say.

Thus, in twenty-four hours, I had subdued the great allies who
had so long oppressed me. I immediately effected a revolution ;
dismissed the doctor from the office of caterer, took the charge on
myself, and administered the most impartial justice. I made the
oldsters pay their mess, which they had not correctly done before ;
1 caused an equal distribution of all luxuries, from which the
juniors hadtill thenbeen debarred ; and I flatter myself I restored, in
some degree, the golden age in the cockpit. There were no more
battles, for there was no hope of victory on their part, nor anything
to contend for on mine. I never took any advantage of my strength
further than to protect the youngsters. I proved by this that I
was not quarrelsome, but had only struggled for my own emancipa-
tion — that gained, I was satisfied. My conduct was explained to
the captain and the officers ; and being fully and fairly dis-
cussed, did me great service. I was looked upon with respect,
and treated with marks of confidence not usual towards a person
so young.

We left Malta, expecting to find our commander-in-chief off
Toulon ; but it seldom happens that the captain of a frigate is in
any hurry to join his admiral, unless charged with despatches of
importance. This not being our case, we somehow or other

56 FRANK MILDMAY.

tumbled down the Mediterranean before a strong Levanter,and then
had to work back again along the coast of Spain and France. It
is an ill wind, they say, that blows nobody good ; and we found it
so with us ; for off Toulon, in company with the fleet, if we did
take prizes they became of little value, because there were so
many to share thera. Our captain, who was a man of the most
consummate ruse de guerre I ever saw or heard of, had two
reasons for sending his prizes to Gibraltar. The first was, that we
should, in all probability, be sent down there to receive our men,
and have the advantage of the cruise back ; the second, that he
was well aware of the corrupt practices of the admiralty-court
at Malta.

All the vessels, therefore, which we had hitherto captured,
were sent to Gibraltar for adjudication, and we now added to
their number. We had the good fortune to take a large ship
laden with barilla, and a brig with tobacco and wine. The
charge of the last I was honoured with : and no prime minister
ever held a situation of such heavy responsibility with such
corrupt supporters. So much was the crew of the frigate
reduced by former captures and the unlucky affair with the
Maltese privateer, that I was only allowed three men. I was, how-
ever, so delighted with my first command, that, I verily believe, if
they had only given me a dog and a pig I should have been
satisfied .

The frigate's boat put us on board. It blew fresh from the east-
ward, and I instantly put the helm up, and shaped my course for
the old rock. The breeze soon freshened into a gale ; we ran slap
before it, but soon found it necessary to take in the top-gallant
sails. This we at last accomplished, one at a time. We then
thought a reef or two in the topsails would be acceptable ; but
that was impossible. We tried a Spanish reef, that is, let the
yards come down on the cap ; and she flew before the gale,
which had now increased to a very serious degree. Our cargo
of wine and tobacco was^ unfortunately, stowed by a Spanish
and not a British owner. The difference was very material
to me. An Englishman, knowing the vice of his countrymen,
would have placed the wine underneath, and the tobacco
above. Unfortunately it was, in this instance, the reverse, and
my men very soon helped themselves to as much as rendered
them nearly useless to me, being more than half seas over.

We got on pretty well, however, till about two o'clock in the
morning, when the man at the helm, unable to wake the other
two seamen to fetch him a drop, thought he might trust the brig
to steer herself for a minute, while he quenched his thirst at the
wine-cask : the vessel instantly broached to, that is, came with
her broadside to the wind and sea, and away went the mainmasj;

tJ-kANK MILDMAY. 57

by the board. Fortunately, the foremast stood. The man who
had just quitted the helm had not time to get drunk, and the other
two were so much frightened that they got sober.

We cleared the wreck as well as we could, got her before the
wind again, and continued on our course. But a British sailor,
the most daring of all men, is likewise the most regardless of
warning or of consequences. The loss of the mainmast, instead
of showing my men the madness of their indulgence in drink,
turned the scale the opposite way. If they could get drunk with
two masts, how much more could they do so with one, when they
had only half as much sail to look after ? With such a rule of
three there was no reasoning ; and they got drunk, and continued
drunk during the whole passage.

Kjood luck often attends us when we don*t deserve it :

" The sweet little cherub that sits up aloft,"

as Dibdin says, has an eye upon us. I knew we could not easily
get out of the Gut of Gibraltar without knowing it ; and
accordingly, on the third day after leaving the frigate, we made
the rock early in the morning, and, by two o'clock, rounded Europa
Point. I had ordered the men to bend the cable, and, like many
other young officers, fancied it was done because they said it was,
and because I had ordered it. It never occurred to me to go and
see if my orders had been executed ; indeed, to say the truth, I
had quite as much as I could turn my hand to : 1 was at the helm
from twelve o'clock at night till six in the morning, looking out
for the land ; and when I ordered one of the men to relieve me, I
directed him how to steer, and fell into a profound sleep, which
lasted till ten o'clock; after which I was forced to exert the whole
of my ingenuity in order to fetch into the Bay, and prevent being
blown through the Gut ; so that the bending of the cable escaped
my memory until the moment I required the use of the anchor.

As I passed under the stern of one of the ships of war in the
Bay, with my prize colours flying, the officer on deck hailed me,
and said I *' had better shorten sail," I thought so too, but how
was this to be done ? My whole ship's company were too drunk
to do it, and though I begged for some assistance from his
Majesty's ship, it blew so fresh, and we passed so quickly, that
they could not hear me, or were not inclined. Necessity has no
law. I saw among the other ships in the bay a great lump of a
transport, and I thought she was much better able to bear the con-
cussion I intended for her than any other vessel ; because I had
heard then, and have been made sure of it since, that her owners
(like all other owners) were cheating the government out of
thousands of pounds a year. She was lying exactly in the part
of the Bay assigned for the prizes ; and as I saw no other possible

58 FRANK MILDMAY.

mode of '* bringing the ship to anchor/' I steered for "the lobster
smack/' and ran slap on board of her, to the great astonishment
of the master, mate, and crew.

The usual expletives, a volley of oaths and curses on our
lubberly heads, followed the shock. This I expected, and was
as fully prepared for as I was for the fall of my foremast, which,
taking the foreyard of the transport, fell over the starboard
quarter and greatly relieved me on the subject of shortening
sail. Thus, my pretty brig was first reduced to a sloop and
then to a hulk ; fortunately her bottom was sound. I was
soon cut clear of the transport, and called out in a manly voice,
" Let go the anchor."

This order was obeyed with promptitude : away it went
sure enough; but the devil a cable was there bent to it, and
my men being all stupidly drunk, I let my vessel drift athwart-
hawse of a frigate ; the commanding officer of which, seeing I
had no other cable bent, very kindly sent a few hands on board
to assist me ; and by five o'clock I was safely moored in the
Bay of Gibraltar, and walked my quarter-deck as high in my
own estimation as Columbus, when he made the American
islands.

But short, short was my power ! My frigate arrived the next
morning. The captain sent for me, and I gave him an account
of my voyage and my disasters ; he very kindly consoled me
for my misfortune ; and so far from being angry with me for
losing my masts, said it was wonderful, under all circumstances,
how I had succeeded in saving the vessel. We lay only a
fortnight at Gibraltar, when news arrived that the French had
entered Spain, and very shortly after orders came from England
to suspend all hostilities against the Spaniards. This we
thought a bore, as it almost annihilated any chance of prize-
money ; at the same time that it increased our labours and
stimulated our activity in a most surprising manner, and opened
scenes to us far more interesting than if the war with Spain had
continued.

We were ordered up to join the admiral off Toulon, but
desired to look into the Spanish port of Carthagena on our way,
and to report the state of the Spanish squadron in that arsenal.
We were received with great politeness by the governor and
the officers of the Spanish fleet lying there. These people we
found were men of talent and education ; their ships were
mostly dismantled, and they had not the means of equipping
them.

FRANK MILDMAY. 55

CHAPTER VI.

Par. You give me most egregious indignity.

Laf. Ay, with all my heart ; and thou art worthy of it.

*' All's Well that Ends Well."

Naturally anxious to behold a country from which we had
hitherto been excluded for so many years, we all applied for leave
to go on shore, and obtained it. Even the seamen were allowed
the same indulg-ence, and went in parties of twenty and thirty
at a time. We were followed and gaped at by the people; but
shunned at the same time as '*hereticos." The inns of the
town, like all the rest of them in Spain, have not improved
since the days of the immortal Santillana — they were all more
or less filled with the lowest of the rabble and a set of bravos
whose calling was robbery, and who cared little if murder were
its accompaniment. The cookery was execrable. Garlic and
oil were its principal ingredients. The olla podrida, and its
constant attendant, the tomato sauce, were Intolerable, but the
wine was very well for a midshipman. Whenever we had a
repast in any of these houses, the bravos endeavoured to pick
a quarrel with us ; and these fellows being always armed with
stilettos, we found it necessary to be equally well prepared; and
whenever we seated ourselves at a table, we never failed to dis-
play the butts of our pistols, which kept them in decent order,
for they are as cowardly as they are thievish. Our seamen,
not being so cautious or so well provided with arms, were
frequently robbed and assassinated by these rascals.

1 was, on one occasion, near falling a victim to them.
Walking in the evening with the second master, and having a
pretty little Spanish girl under my arm, — for, to my shame be
it spoken, I had already formed an acquaintance with the frail
sisterhood, — four of these villains accosted us. We soon per-
ceived, by their manner of holding their cloaks, that they had
their stilettos ready. I desired my companion to draw his dirk,
to keep close to me, and not to let them get between us and the
wall. Seeing that we were prepared, they wished us '' biienos
noches " (good night), and, endeavouring to put us off our guard
by entering into conversation, asked us to give them a cigar,
which my companion would have done, had I not cautioned
him not to quit his dirk with his right hand, for this was all they
wanted.

In this defensive posture we continued until we had nearly
reached the plaza or great square, where many people were

6o FRANK MILDMAY.

walking, and enjoying themselves by moonlight, the usual custom
of the country. "Now," said I to my friend, *Met us make a
start from these fellows. When I run, do you follow mc, and
don't stop till we are in the middle of the square,"

The manoeuvre was successful; we out-ran the thieves, who
were not aware of our plan, and were encumbered with their
heavy cloaks. Finding we had escaped, they turned upon the
girl, and robbed her of her miserable earnings. This we saw,
but could not prevent, such was the police of Spain then, nor has
it improved since.

This was the last time I ventured on shore at night, except
to go once with a party of our officers to the house of the
Spanish admiral, who had a very pretty niece, and was liberate
enough not to frown on us poor heretics. She was indeed a
pretty creature : her lovely black eyes, long eyelashes, and raven
hair, betrayed a symptom of Moorish blood, at the same time
that her ancient family-name and high good-breeding gave her
the envied appellation of Vieja Ckristia?ia.

This fair creature was pleased to bestow a furtive glance of
approbation on my youthful form and handsome dress. My
vanity was tickled. I spoke French to her: she understood it
imperfectly, and pretended to know still less of it, from the
hatred borne by all the Spaniards at that time to the French
nation. We improved our time, however, which was but short,
and, before we parted, perfectly understood each other, I
thought I could be contented to give up everything, and reside
with her in the wilds of Spain, The time of our departure came,
and I was torn away from my Rosaritta, not without the sus-
picions of my captain and shipmates that I had been a too highly
favoured youth. This was not true. I loved the dear angel, but
never had wronged her ; and I went to sea in a mood which I
sometimes thought might end in an act of desperation ; but salt
water is an admirable specific against love, at least against such
love as that was.

We joined the admiral off Toulon, and were ordered by him
to cruise between Perpignan and Marseilles. We parted from
the fleet on the following day, and kept the coast in a continued
state of alarm. Not a vessel dared to show her nose out of
port : we had her if she did. Batteries we laughed at, and
either silenced them v/ith our long eighteen-pounders, or landed
and blew them up. In one of these little skirmishes I had very
nearly been taken, and should, in that case, have missed all the
honour and glory and hairbreadth escapes which will be found
related in the following pages, I should either have been sabred
in mere retaliation, or marched off to Verdun for the remaining
six years of the war.

FRANK MILDMAY. 6i

We had landed to storm and blow up a battery, for ■u-hich
purpose we carried with us a bag" of powder and a train of
canvas. Everything went on prosperously. We came to a
canal which it was necessary to cross, and the best swimmers
were selected to convey the powder over without wetting it. I
was one of them. I took off my shoes and stockings to save
them ; and, after we had taken the battery. I was so intent on
looking for the telegraphic signal-box, that I had quite forgotten
the intended explosion, until I heard a cry of "Run, run!'*
from those outside, who had lighted the train.

I was at that moment on the wall of the fort, nearly thirty
feet high, but sloping. I jumped one part, and scrambled the
other, and ran away as fast as I could, amidst a shower of
stones, which fell around me like an eruption of Vesuvius.
Luckily I was not hit, but I had cut my foot in the leap, and
was in much pain, I had two fields of stubble to pass, and
my shoes and stockings were on the other side of the canal —
the sharp straw entered the wound, and almost drove me mad,
and I was tempted to sit down and resign myself to my fate.
However, I persevered, and had nearly reached the boats which
were putting oiT, not aware of my absence, when a noise like
distant thunder reached my ears. This I soon found was cavalry

from Cotte, which had come to defend the battery. I mus-
tered all my strength, and plunged into the sea to swim off to
the boats ; and so little time had I to spare, that some of the
enemy's chasseurs, on their black horses, swam in after me, and
fired their pistols at my head. The boats were at this time
nearly a quarter of a mile from the shore ; the officers in them
fortunately perceived the cavalry, and saw me at the same
time: a boat laid on her oars, which, with great difficulty, I
reached, and was taken in ; but so exhausted with pain and
loss of blood, that I was carried on board almost dead ; my
foot was cut to the hone, and I continued a month under the
surgeon's care.

I had nearly recovered from this accident, when we captured
a ship, with which Murphy was sent as prize-master; and the
same evening a schooner, which we cut out from her anchorage.
The command of this latter vessel was given to me — it was late
in the evening, and the hurry was so great that the keg of spirits
intended for myself and crew was not put on board. This was
going from one extreme to the other ; in my last ship we had too
much liquor, and in this too little. Naturally thirsty, our desire
for drink needed not the stimulus of salt fish and calavances, for
such was our cargo and such was our food, and deeply did we

deplore the loss of oitr spirits.

Dn th^ th*r4 ^^y fiUet le^vin^ the frig-ate. on our way if*

62 FRANK MILDMAY.

Gibraltar, I fell in with a ship on the coast of Spain, and
knew it to be the one Murphy commanded, by a remarkable
white patch in the main-topsail. I made all sail in chase, in
hopes of obtaining" some spirits from him, knowing" that he had
more than he could consume, even if he and his people ,got
drunk every day. When I came near him, he made all the
sail he could. At dusk I was near enough almost to hail him,
but he stood on ; and I, having a couple of small three-pounders
on board, with some powder, fired one of them as a signal.
This I repeated ag-ain and again ; but he would not bring to ;
and when it was dark, I lost sight of him, and saw- him no
more until we met at Gibraltar.

Next morning I fell in with three Spanish fishing-boats.
They took me for a French privateer, pulled up their lines, and
made sail, I came up with them, and, firing- a gun, they hove
to and surrendered. I ordered them alongside ; and, finding
they had each a keg- of wine on board, I condemned that part
of their cargo as contraband ; but I honestly offered payment
for what I had taken. This they declined, finding- I was
" In£'/eSf" too happy to think they were not in the hands of
the French. I then g'ave each of them a pound of tobacco,
which not only satisfied them, but confirmed them in the
newly-received opinion among their countrymen, that England
was tlie bravest as well as the most generous of nations. They
offered everything their boat contained; but I declined all
most nobly, because I had obtained all I wanted ; and we
parted with mutual good will, they shouting, " Viva Ingla-
terra ! " and we drinking them a good passage in their own
wine. "^-■

Alany days elapsed before we reached Gibraltar : the winds
were light, and the weather fine ; but as we had discovered
that -the fishing-boats had wine, we took care to supply our
cellar without ,any trouble from the excise ; and, from our
equitable mode of barter, I had no reason to think that His
Majesty King George lost any of his deserved popularity by
our conduct. When we reached Gibraltar, I had still a couple
of good kegs wherewith to regale my messmates; though I was
sorry to find the frigate and the rest of her prizes had got in before
us. Murphy, indeed, did not arrive till the day after me.

I was on the quarter-deck when he came in ; and, to my
astonishment, he reported that he had been chased by a French
privateer, and had beaten her off after a four hours^ action — that
his rigging had suffered a good deal, but that he had not a
man hurt. I let him run on till the evening. Many believed
him ; but some doubted. At dinner in the gun-room, his ar-
rogance knew no bounds ; and when half drunk, my three me»

FRANK MILDMAY. 63

were magnified into a well manned brig, as fall of men and guns
as she could stuff!

Sick of all this nonsense, I then simply related the story as it
had occurred, and sent for the quarter-master, who was with mi',
and who confirmed all my statement. From that moment he
was a mark of contempt in the ship. Every lie was a IMurphy.
and every Murphy a liar. He dared not resent this scorn of
ours ; and found himself so uncomfortable, that he offered no
objection to the removal proposed by the captain ; liis cha-
racter followed him, and he never obtained promotion. It is
a satisfaction to me to reflect that I n9t only had my full re-
venge on this man, but that I had been the instrument of turn-
ing him out of an honourable profession w'hich he woulr^ have
disgraced.

This was no time for frigates to be idle ; and if I chose to
give the name of mine and my captain, the naval history of the
country would- prove that ours, of all otlier ships, was one of
the most distinguished in the cause of Spanish freedom. The
south of Spain became the tlieatre of the most cruel and deso-
lating war. Our station was off Barcelona, and thence to
Perpignan, the frontier of France on the borders of Spain.
Our duty (for which the enterprising disposition of our captain
was admirably calculated) was to support the guerilla chiefs ;
to cut off the enemy's convoys of provisions, either by sea or
along the road which lay by the sea-shore ; or to dislodge the
enemy from any stronghold he might be in possession of.

I was absent from the ship on such services three and four
weeks at a time, being attached to a division of small-arm
men under the command of the third lieutenant. We suffered
very much from privations of all kinds. We never took with
us more than one week's provision, and were frequently three
weeks without receiving any supply. In the article of dress,
our " catalogue of negatives," as a celebrated author says, " was
very copious ; " we had no shoes nor stockings, no linen, and not
all of us had hats ; a pocket-handkerchief was the common
substitute for this article ; we clambered over rocks, and wan-
dered through the flinty or muddy ravines in company with our
new allies, the hardy mountaineers.

These men respected our valour, but did not like our religion or
our manners. They cheerfully divided their rations with us, but
were always inexorable in their cruelty to the French prisoners ;
and no persuasion of ours could induce them to spare the lives of
one of these unhappy people, whose cries and entreaties to the
English to intercede for or save them were always unavailing.
They were either stabbed before our faces, or dragged to the top
of a hill commanding a. view' of some fortress occupied by the

64 FRANK MILDMAY.

French, and, in sight of their countrymen, their throats cut from
ear to ear.

Should the Christian reader condemn this horrid barbaritj% as
he certainly will, he must remember that those people were men
whose every feelinc^ had been outra,i^ed. Rape, conflagration,
murder, and famine had everywliere followed the step of the cruel
invaders ; and, however we mig-ht lament their fate and endeavour
to avert it, we could not but admit that the I'etaliation was not
without justice. In this irregular warfare, we sometimes revelled
in luxuries, and at others were nearly starved. One day, in par-
ticular, w'hen fainting with hunger, we met a fat, rosy-looking
capuchin : we beg"g"ed him to show us where we mig;ht procure
some food, either by purchase or in any other way ; but he neither
knew where to procure any nor had he any money : his order, he
said, forbade him to use it. As he turned away from us in some
precipitation, we thoug"ht we heard something" rattle ; and as
necessity has no law, we took the liberty of searching" the padre,
on whose person we found forty dollars, of which we relieved him,
assuring him that our consciences were perfectly clear, since his
order forbade him to carry money ; and that as he lived among-st
g^ood Christians, they would not allow him to want. He cursed
us; but we laughed at him, because he had produced his own
misfortune by his falsehood and hypocrisy.

This was the manner in which the Spanish priests generally
behaved to us ; and in this way we generally repaid them when
we could. We kept the plunder — converted it into food^oined
our party soon after, and supposed the affair was over; but the
friar had followed us at a distance, and we perceived him coming
up the hill where we were stationed. To avoid discovery we
exchanijed clothes, in such a manner as to render us no lontrer
cognizable. The friar made his complaint to the guerilla chief,
whose eyes flashed fire at the indignant treatment his priest had
received ; and it is probable that bloodshed would have ensued
had he been able to point out the culprit.

1 kept my countenance though I had changed my dress, and
as he looked at me with something beyond suspicion, I stared
him full in the face with the whole united power of my matchless
in.-:pudence, and in a loud and menacing tone of voice, asked him
in French if he took me for a brigand. The question, as well as
the manner in which it was put, silenced, if it did not satisfy, the
priest He seemed to listen with apparent conviction to the
suggestion of some of our people, that lie had been robbed by
another party, and he set out in pursuit of them. 1 was quite
tired- of. his importunities, and glad to see him depart. As he

turned away, he gave me a very scrutinizing look, which 1 re-
♦nrrjed wHh another; fnW of we)l disfsembled rage an4 scorn. My

FRANK MILDMAY. 65

curling hair had been well flattened down with a piece of soap,
which 1 had in my pocket, and I had much more the appearance
of a Methodist parson than a pickpocket.

Some time previous to this, the (rigate to which I belonged had
been ordered on other services; and as I had no opportunity of
joining her, I was placed, ^ro tempore, on board of another. But
as this chapter has already spun out its length, I shall refer my
•reader to the next for further particulars.

CHAPTER VII.

The shout
Of battle now began, and rushing sound
Of onset *****

* Twixt host and host but narroiv space was \^{t.

Milton.

From the deservedly high character borne by the captain
of the frigate which I was ordered to join, he was employed by
Lord Coiiingwood on the most confidential services ; and we
were sent to assist tJie Spaniards in their defence of the im-
portant fortress of Rosas, in Catalonia. It has already been
observed that the French general St Cyr had entered that
country, and, having taken F'igueras and Gerona, was looking

with a wistful eye on the castle of Trinity, on the south-east
side, the capture of which would be a certain prelude to the fall
of r<05as.

I\iy captain determined to defend it, although it had just
been abandoned by another British naval officer, as untenable.
I volunteered, though a supernumerary, to be one of the party,
and was sent : nor can I but acknowledge that the officer who
liad abandoned tlic place had shown more than a sound
discretion. Every part of the castle was in ruins. Heaps of
crunibHng stones and rubbish, broken gun-carriages, and split
guns, presented to my mind a very unfavourable field of battle.
The only advantage we appeared to have over the assailants
was that the breach which they had effected in the walls was
steep in the ascent, and the loose stones either fell down upon
them or gave way under their feci, while we plied them with
every kind of missile. This was our only deience, and all we
had to prevent the enemy marching into the works, if works
they could be called.

There was another and very serious disadvantage attending
our locality. The castle was situated very near the summit of
a steep hill, the upper part of which was in possession of the

66 FRANK MILDMAY.

enemy, who were by this means nearly on a level with the top
of the castle, and on that eminence, three luindred Swiss
sharpshooters had effected a lodgement, and thrown up works
i\'itiiin fifty yards of us, keeping- up a constant fire at the castle,
if a head was seen above the walls, twenty rifie-bullets whizzed
ft it in a moment, and the same unremitted attention was paid to
^ur boats as they landed.

On another hill, much to the northward, and consequently,

Virther inland, the French had erected a battery of six

14-pounders. Tliis agreeable neig-hbour was only three

fundred yards from us, and, allowing short intervals for the

i;;uns to cool, this battery kept up a constant fire upon us from

daylight till dark. I never could have supposed in my boyish

(ays that the time would ar.ive when I should envy a cock upon

Shrove Tuesday; yet such was my case when in this infernal

iastle. It was certainly not .giving us fair play; we had no

rhance against, such a force ; but my captain was a knight-

/rrant, and as I liad volunteered, I had no right to complain.

Such was the precision of the enemy's fire, that we could tell

the stone that would be hit by the next shot, merely from

seeing where the last had struck, and our men were frequently

wounded by the splinters of g^Tanite with which the walls were

built, and others picked off, like partridges, by the Swiss corps
on the hill close to us.

Our force in the castle consisted of a hundred and thirty
English seamen and marines, one company of Spanish, and
another of Swiss troops in Spanish pay. Never were troops
worse paid and fed or better fired at. We all pigged in together,
dirty straw and fleas for qur beds ; our food on the same scale
hf luxury; from the captain downwards there was no distinc-
^'ion. Fighting" is sometimes a very agreeable pastime,- but
^■xccss " palls on the sense : " and here we had enough of it,
//ithout what 1 alwa3-s thought an indispensable accompaniment,
/.amcly, a good bclK'fuIl ; nor did I conceive how a man could
perform his duty without it ; but here 1 was forced, with many
others, to make the experiment, and when the boats could not
iand, which was often the case, we piped to dinner ^ro forma
as our captain liked regularity, and drank cold water to fill our

stomachs. r-

I have often heard my poor uncle say that no man knows
what he can do till he tries; and the fiucmy gave us plenty of
opportunities of displaying our ing^enuity, industry, watchfulness.
and abstinence. W^hen poor Penelope wove her web, the poet
says,^

*' The night unravelled what the day began."

FRANK MILDMAY, by

With us it was precisely the reverse : the day destroj'ed all the
labours of the night. The hours of darkness were employed by
us in filling sand-bags, and laying them in the breach, clearing
away rubbish, and preparing to receive the enemy's fire, which
was sure to recommence at daylight. These avocations,
together with a constant and most vigilant watch against surprise,
took up so much of our time that I'ltle was left for repose, and our
meals required still less.

There was some originality in one of our modes of defence,
and which, not being secundum artettiy might have provoked
the smile of an engineet The captain contrived to make a
shoot of smooth deal boards, which he received from the ship :
these he placed in a slanting direction in the breach, and caused
them to be well greased. with cook's slush; so that the enemies
who "wished to come into our hold, must have jumped down
upon them, and would in 2ir\ instant be precipitated into the
ditch below, a very considerable depth, where they might either
have remained till the doctor came to them, or, if they were
able, begin their labours de novo. This was a very good bug-
trap ; for, at that time, I thought just as little of killing a
Frenchman as I did of destroying the filthy little nightly
depredator just mentioned.

Besides this slippery tricky which we played them with great
success, we served them another. We happened to have on
board the frigate a large quantity of fish-hooks ; these we planted,
not only on the greasy boards, but in every part where the in-
truders were likely to place their hands or feet. The breach
itself was mined, and loaded with shells and hand-grenades !
masked gans, charged up to the muzzle with musket-balls,
enfiladed the spot in every direction. Such were our defence;
and, considering that we had been three weeks in the castle,
opposed to such mighty odds, it is surprising that we only lost
twenty men. The crisis was now approaching.

One morning, very early, I happened X.0 have the look-out.
The streak of fog which during the night hangs between the hills
in that country, and presses down into the valleys, had just
begun to rise, and the stars to grow more dim above our heads,
when 1 was looking over the castle-wall towards the breach.
The captain came out and asked me what I was looking at. I
told him I hardly knew; but there did appear something
unusual in the valley, immediately below the breach. He
listened a moment, looked attentively with his night-glass, and
exclaimed, in his firm voice, but in an undertoncd manner,
*' To arms ! — they are coming ! "

In three minutes every man was at his post; and though all
were quick, there was no time to spare, for by this time the

68 FRANK MILDMAY.

black column of the enemy was distinctly visible, curling along*
the valley like a great centipede ; and, with the daring enter-
prise so common among the troops of Napoleon, had begun in
silence to mount the breach. It was an awful and eventful
moment ; but the coolness and determination of the little
garrison was equal to the occasion.

The word was given to take good aim, and a volley from the
masked guns and musketry was poured into the thick of them.
They paused — deep groans ascended ! They retreated a few
paces in confusion, then rallied, and again advanced to the
attack ; and now the fire on both sides was kept up without
intermission. The great guns from the hill fort, and the Swiss
sharpshooters, still nearer, poured copious volleys upon us, and
with loud shouts cheered on their comrades to the assault. As
they approached and covered our mine, the train was fired, and
up they went in the air, and down they fell buried in the ruins.
Groans, screams, confusion, French ycjls, British hurras, rent
the sky ! The hills resounded with the shouts of victory ? We
sent them hand-grenades in abundance, and broke their shins
in glorious style. I must say that the Frencli behaved nobly,
though many a tall grenadier and pioneer fell by the symbol in
front of his warlike cap. I cried with rage and excitement ; and
we all fought like bull-dogs, for we knew there was no quarter to
be given.

Ten minutes had elapsed since the firing began, and in that
time many a brave fellow had bit the dust. The head of their
attacking column had been destroyed by the exph'sion of our
mine. Still they had re-formed, and were again half-way up the
breach when the day began to dawn ; and we saw a chosen body
of one thousand men, led on by their colonel, and advancing
over the dead which had just fallen.

The gallant leader appeared to be as cool and compo:sed as
if he were at breakfast; with his drawn sword he pointed to (lie
breach, and we heard him exclaim, '' Suivcz fn.-n / " 1 felt
jealous of this brave fellow-jealous of his being a Frenchman;
and I threw a lighted hand-grenade between his feel — he picked
it up, and threw it from him to a considerable distance.

'' Cool chap enough that," said the captain, who stood close
to me ; " I'll give him another," which he did, but this tlie ofiicer
kicked away with equal sail g /raid and dignity. "Nothing
will cure that fellow," resumed the captain, "but an ounce of
lead on an empty stomach — it's a pity, too, to kill so fine a
fellow — but there is no help for it."

So saying, he took a musket out of my hand, w^hich I had just
loaded— aimed, fired — the colonel staggered, clapped his hand to
his breast, and fell back into the arms of some of his men, who

FRANK MILDMAY. 69

threw down their muskets, and took him on their shoulders,
either unconscious or perfectly regardless of the death-work
which was going on around them. The firing redoubled from
our musketry on this little group, every man of whom was either
killed or wounded. The colonel, again left to himself, tottered a
few paces further, till he reached a small bush, not ten yards
from the spot where he received his mortal wound. Here he fell ;
his sword, which he still grasped in his right hand, rested on the
boughs, and pointed upwards to the sky, as if directing the road
to the spirit of its gallant master.

With the life of the colonel ended the hopes of the French for
that day. The officers, we could perceive, did their duty —
cheered, encouraged, and drove on their men, but all in vain.
We saw them pass their swords through the bodies of the
fugitives; but the men did not even mind that — they would
only be killed in their own way — they had had fighting enough
for one breakfast. The first impulse, the fiery onset, had been
checked by the fall of their brave leader, and satcve qui peuf,
whether coming from the officers or drummers, no matter which,
terminated the affair, and we were left a little time to breathe,
and to count the number of our dead.

The moment the French perceived from their batteries that
the attempt had failed, and that the leader of the enterprise was
dead, they poured in an angry fire upon us. I stuck my hat on
the bayonet of my musket, and just showed it above the wall.
A dozen bullets were through it in a minute : very fortunately
my head was not in it.

The fire of the batteries having ceased, which it generally did
at stated periods, we h.'id an opportunity of examining the point
of attack. Scaling-ladders and dead bodies lay in profusion.
All the wounded had been removed, but what magnificent
**food for powder" were the bodies which lay before us! — all,
it would seem, picked men ; not one less than six feet, and some
more : they were clad in their grey capots, to render their
appearance more sombre^ and less discernible in the twilight
of the morning : and as the weather was cold during the nights,
I secretly determined to have one of those great coats as a chere
amie to keep me warm in night-watches. I also resolved to
have the coloners sword to present to my captain ; and as soon
as it was dark I walked down the breach, brought up one of the
scaling-ladders, which I deposited in the castle ; and having done
so much for the king, I set out to do something for myself.

It was pitch dark. I stumbled on : the wind blew a hurricane,
and the dust and mortar almost blinded me ; but I knew my
way pretty well. Yet, there was something very jackall-like, in
wandering about among dead bodies in the night-time and I

;o FRANK MtLDMAY.

really felt a horror at my situation. There was a dreadful
stillness between the blasts, which the pitch darkness made
peculiarly awful to an unfortified mind. It is for this reason that
I would ever discourage night-attacks, unless you can rely on
your men. They generally fail : because the man of common
bravery, who would acquit himself fairly in broad daylight, will
hang back during the night. Fear and darkness have always
been firm allies ; and are inseparably playing into each other's
hands. Darkness conceals fear, and therefore fear loves dark-
ness, because it saves the coward from shame ; and when the
fear of shame is the only stimulus to fight, daylight is essentially
necessary.

I crept cautiously along, feeling for the dead bodies. The
first I laid my hand on, made my blood curdle. It was the
lacerated thigh of a grenadier, whose flesh had been torn off by
a hand-grenade. "Friend," said I, "if I may judge from the
nature of your wound, 5'our great coat is not worth having.'*
The next subject I handled, had been better killed. A musket-
ball through his head had settled all his tradesmen's bills; and
I hesitated not in becoming residuary legatee, as I was sure the
assets would more than discharge the undertaker's bill ; but
the body was cold and stiff, and did not readily yield its
garment.

I, however, succeeded in obtaining my object ; in which I
arrayed myself, and went on in search of the colonel's sword ;
but here I had been anticipated by a Frenchman. The colonel,
indeed, lay there, stiff enough, but his sword was gone. 1 was
preparing to return, when I encountered, not a dead, but a
living enemy.

" Qjii Vive ? " said a low voice.

'^Anglais bite!^^ answered I, in a low tone: and added,
" J7iais Ics corsairs ne se hattent ^as.^^

" Oest vraz\^' said he ; and growling, " bon soiry^ he was
soon out of sight. I scrambled back to the castle, gave the
sounter-sign to the sentinel, and showed my new great coat with
a vast deal of glee and satisfaction ; some of my comrades went
•n the same sort of expedition, and were rewarded with more or
less success.

In a few days the dead bodies on the breach were nearly
denuded by nightly visitors ; but that of the colonel lay respected
and, untouched. The heat of the day had blackened it, and it
was now deprived of all its manly beauty, and nothing remained
but a loathsome corpse. The rules of war, as well as of
humanity, demanded the honourable interment of the remains of
this hero ; and our captain, who was the very flower of chivalry,
desired me to stick a white handkerchief on a pike, as a flag of

FRANK MILDMAY,' 7i

truce, and bury the bodies, if the enemy would permit us.

1 went out accordinirly, with a spade and a pick-axe ; but the
tiraili€ti?'s on the hill began with their rifles, and wounded on^
of my men. I looked at the captain, as much as to say, " Am I
\o proceed ? " He motioned -with his hand to go on^ and I then
vegan digging a hole by the side of a dead body, and the
enemy, seeing my intention, desisted from firing. I had buried
several, when the captain came out and joined me, with a view
of reconnoitring the position of the enemy. He was seen from
the fort, and recognized; and his intention pretty accurately
guessed stt.

We were near the body of the colonel, which we were going
lo inter ; when the captain, observing a diarnond-ring on the
finger qf the corpse, said to one of the sailors, "You may just
as well take that off; it can be of no use to him now." The
man tried to get it off; but the rigidity of the muscles after death
prevented his moving it. "He won't feel your knife, poor
fellow," said the captain ; " and a finger more or less is no great
matter \.o him now : off with it."

Tlie sailor began to saw the finger-joint with his knife, when
down came a twenty-four pound shot, and with such a good
direction that it took the shoe off the man's foot, and the shovel
>ut of the hand of another man. " In with him, and covered him
up! " said the captain.

We did so ; when another shot, not quite so well directed as
the first, threw Hie dirt in our faces, and ploughed the ground at
our feet. The captain then ordered his men to run into the
castle, which they instantly obeyed; while he himself walked
leisurely along through a shower of musket-balls from those
cursed Swiss dogs, whom I most fervently wished at the devil,
oecausc, as an aide-de-camp, I felt bound in honour as well as
duty to walk by the side of my captain, fully expecting every
mc^ment that a rifle-bail would have hit me where I should have
been ashamed to show the scar. I thought this funeral pace,
after the funeral was over, confounded nonsense ; but my fire-
eating captain never had run away from a Frenchman, and did
not intend to begin then.

I was behind him, making thr'o reflections, and as the shot
segan to fly very thick, 1 stepp .i up alongside of him, and by
degrees brought him between me and the fire. "Sir," said I,
"as I am only a midshipman, I don't care so much about
honour as j-ou do ; and therefore, if it makes no difference to
you, I'll take the liberty of getting under your lee." He laughed,
and said, " I did not know you were here, for I meant you
should have gone with the others; but, since you are out of
your station, Mr. Mildmay, I will make that use of you which

75 FRANK MILDMAY.

you so ingeniously proposed to make of me. My life may be
of some importance here ; but yours very little, and another
midshipman can be had from the ship only for asking: so just
drop astern, if you please, and do duty as a breastwork for mc ! "

** Certainly, sir," said I, ** by all means ; " and I took my station
accordingly.

'* Now," said the captain, " if you are ^ doubled tip^' I will take
you on my shoulders ! "

i expressed myself exceedingly obliged, not only for the
honour he had conferred on me, but also for that which he in-
tended ; but hoped I should have no occasion to trouble him.
Whether the enemy took pity on my youth and i7iiioceiice^ or
whether they purposely missed us, I cannot say: 1 only know I
was very happy when I found myself inside the castle with a whole
skin, and should very readily have reconciled ^myself fo any
measure which would have restored me even to the comforts and
conveniencies of a man-of-war's cockpit. All human enjoyment
is comparitive, and nothing ever convinced me of it so much and
so forcibly as what took place at this memorable siege. Fortune,
and the well-known cowardice of the Spaniards, released me from
this jeopardy ; they surrendered the citadel, after which the castle
was of no use, and we ran down to our boats as fast as we could ;
and notwithstanding the very assiduous fire of the watchful
tirailleurs on the hill, we all got on board without accident.

There was one very singular feature in this affair. The Swiss
mercenaries in the French and Spanish services, opposed to each
other, behaved with the greatest bravery,anddid theirduty with un-
exceeded fidelity ; but being posted so near, and coming so often in
contact with each other, they would cry truce for a quarter of an
hour, while they made inquiries after their mutual friends ; ofterv
recognizing each other as fathers and sons, brothers and near
relatives, lighting on opposite sides. They would laugh and joke
with each other, declare the truce at an end, then load their
muskets, and take aim, with the same indiiierence, as regarded
the object, as if they had been perfect strangers ; but, as 1 before
observed, fighting is a trade.

?rom Rosas we proceeded to join the admiral off Toulon ; and
being informed that a battery of six brass guns, in the port of Silva,
would be in possession of the French in a few hours, we ran in,
and anchored within pistol-shot of it. We lashed blocks to our
lower mast-heads, rove hawsers tlirough them, sent the ends on
shore, made them fast to the guns, and hove off three of them, one
after anotiier, by the capstan ; and had the end of the hawser on
shore, ready for the others, when our marine videttes were surprised
by the French, driven in, and retreated to the beach, with the loss
of one man taken prisoner.

FRANK MILDMAY. 73

Not having sufficient force on '=.)iore to resist them, we re-
embarked our party, and the French, takinj?" up a position behind
the rocks, commenced a heavy fire of musketry upon us. We
answered it with tlie same; and now and then gave them a great
gun ; but tlicy had the advantage of position, and wounded ten or
eleven of our men from their elevated stations behind the rocks.
At sunset this Ci^ased, wlien a boat came off from the shore, pulled
by one Spaniard ; he brou2:ht a letter for the captain, from the
officer commanding the French detachment.. It presented the
French captain's compliments to ours ; regretted the little
interruption he had given to our occupation ; remarked that the
weather was cold, and as he had been ordered off in a hurry, he
had not liael time to provide himself ; and as there was always a
proper feeling among braves geiis, requested a few gallons of rum
lor himself and followers.

This request was answered witli ^f>oIite note, and the spirits
required. The British captain hoped the commandant and his
party would make themselves comfortable, and have a ho?i repos.
The captain, however, intended the Frenchman should pay for the
spirits, though not in money, and sent in the bill about one o'clock
in the morning.

All at that hour was as still as death ; the French guard had
refreshed themselves, and were enjoying the full extent of our
captain's benefaction, when he observed to us that it was a pity to
lose the boat which was left on shore, as well as the other brass
guns, and proposed making the attempt to bring off both. Five
or six of us stripped, and lowering ourselves into the water very
gently, swam ashore, in a breathless kind of silence that would
have done honour to a Pawnee Loup Indian. The water was very
cold, and at first almost took away my respiration. We landed
under the battery, and having first secured our boat without noise,
we crept softly up to where the end of the hawsers lay by the
side of the guns, to which we instantly made them fast.
About a dozen French soldiers were lying near, keeping watch,
fast asleep.

We might easily have killed them all ; but as we considered
they were under the influence of our rum, v»-e abhorred such a
violation of hospitality. AVe helped ourselves, however, to most
of the muskets that were near us, and ver)' quietly getting into
the boat, put off and rowed with two oars to the ship. The noise
of the oars woke some of the soldiers, wlio, jumping up, fired at
us with all the arms they had left; and I believe soon got a reinforce-
ment, for they fired both quick and well ; and, as it was starlight
and we were naked, our bodies were easily seen, so that the shot
came very thick about us.

"Diving," said I, "is not running- away;" so ovev we all

74 FRANK MTLDMAY.

went, except two, I was down like a porpoise, never rising- til)
my head touched the ship's copper. I swam round the stern, and
was taken in on the side opposite the enem). IVly captain, 1
daresay, would have disdained such a compromise ; but thouirli
I was as proud as he was, I always thought, with Falstalf,

that ''discretion was the better part of valour,'* especially in a
midshipman. >

The men left in the boat got safe on board with her. The hands
were all ready, g^nd the moment our oars splashsd in the w^ater
they hove round cheerfully, and the guns came galloping dowi)
the rocks like young kangaroos. They were soon under water
and long before the Frenchmen could get a cut at the hawsers
They then fired at them with their muskets, in hopes of stranding
the rope, but they failed in that also. We secured the guns on
board, and, before daylight, got under weigh, and made sail for
the fleet, which we joined shortly afterwards. I here learned
that my own ship had fought a gallant action with an enemy's
frigate, had taken her opponent, but had suffered so much, thai
she was ordered home for repairs, and had sailed for England
from Gibraltar.

I had letters of introduction to the rear-admiral, who was
second in command ; and I thought, under these circumstances
the best thing I could do would be to ''clean myself," as the
phrase used to be in those days, and go on board and present
them. I went accordingly, and saw the flag-captain, who took
my letters in to the admiral, and brought out a verbal, and not a
very civil message, saying, I might join the ship, if I pleased,
until my own returned to the station. As it happened to suit my
convenience, I did please ; and the manner in which the favour
was conferred disburdened my mind of any incumbrance of
gratitude. The reception was not such as I might have expected :
had the letters not been from people of distinction, and friends of
the rear-admiral, I should much have preferred remaining in the
frigate, whose captain also wished it, but that was not allowed.

To the flag-ship, therefore, I came, and why I was brought here,
I never could discover, unless it was for the purpose of completing
a menagerie, for I found between sixty and seventy midshipmen
already assembled. They were mostly youngsters, followers of
the rear-admiral, and had seen very little, if any, service, and I
had seen a great deal for the time I had been afloat Listening
eagerly to my "yarns," the youthful ardour of these striplings
kindled, and they longed to emulate my deeds. The consequence
was, numerous applications from the midshipmen to be allowed to
join the frigates on the station ; not one was contented in the flag-
ship ; and the captain having discovered that I was the tarantula

FRANK MILDMAY. ys

r

which had bitten them, hated me accordingly, and not a jot more
than I hated him.

The captain was a very large, ill-made, broad-shouldereu man,
with a lack-lustre eye, a pair of thick lips, and a very unmeaning-
countenance. He wore a large pair of epaulettes ; lie was irritable
in his temper; and when roused, which was frequent, was always
violent and overbearing- His v6ice was like thunder, and when
he launched out on the poor midshipmen, they leminded me of
the trembling bird which, when fascinated by the eye of the snake,
loses its powers, and falls at once into the jaws of the monster.
When much excited, he had a custom of shaking his shoulders
up and down ; and his epaulettes, on these occasions, flapped like
the huge ears of a trotting elephant. At the most distant view of
his person or sound of his voice, every midshipman, not obliged
to remain, fled, like the land-crabs on a West-India beach.
He was incessantly taunting me, was sure to find some fault
or other with me, and sneeringly called me " one of your frigate
midshipmen."

Irritated by this unjust treatment, I one day answered that I
was a frigate midshipman, and hoped I could do my duty as well
as any line-of-battle midshipman, of my own standing, in the
service. For this injudicious and rather impertinent remark, I was
ordered aft on the quarter-deck, and the captain went in to the
admiral, and asked permission to flog me ; but the admiral
refused, observing, that he did not admire the system of flogging
young gentlemen : and, moreover, in the present instance he saw
no reason for it.^ So I escaped ; but I led a sad life of it, and
often did 1 pray for the return of my own ship.

Among other exercises of the fleet, we used always to reef
topsails at sunset, and this was usually done by all fhe ships
at the same moment, — waiting the signal from the admiral to
begin ; in this exercise there was much foolish rivalry, and very
serious accidents, as well as numerous punishments, took place,
in consequence of one ship trying to excel another. On these
occasions our captain would bellow and foam at the mouth, like
a mad bull, up and down the quarter-deck. One fine evening
the signal was made, the topsails lowered, and the men laying
out on the yards, when a poor fellow from the main-topsail
yard fell, in his trying to lay out ; and, striking his shoulder
against the main channels, broke his arm, I saw he was dis-
abled, and could not swim : and, perceivmg him sinking, I
darted overboard, and held him until a boat came and picked
him up; as the water was smootli and there was little wind, and
tlie ship not going more than two miles an hour, I incurred little
risk.

When I came on deck I found the captain fit for Bedlam^

76 FRANK MILDMAY.

because the accident had de]a3'ed the topsails going to the
mast-head quite as quick as the rest of the ileet. He threatened
to ilcg the man for falling- overboard^ and ordered me off the
quartt-.r-deck. Thi^ was a great injustice to both of us. Of all
the cl'aracter^ I ever met with, holding so high a rank in the
service, this man was the most unpleasant.

Shortly after, we were ordered to Minorca to refit ; here, to
my great joy, I found my own ship, and I "shook the Just off
my feet," arfd quitted the flag with a light heart. During the
time I had been on board, the admiral had never said, '* How
do ye do?" to me — nor did he say, "Good bye," when I
quitted. Indeed, I should have left the ship without ever having
been honoured with his notice, if it had not happened that a
favourite pointer of his was a shipmate of mine. I recollect
hearing of a man who boasted that the king had spoken to him ;
and when it was asked what he had said, replied, " He desired
me to get out of his way."

My intercourse with the admiral was about as friendly and
flattering. Pompey and I W'ere on the poop. I presented him
with a piece of hide to gnaw% by way of pastime. The admiral
came on the poop, and seeing Pompey thus employed, asked
who gave him that piece of hide ? The yeoman of the signals
said it was me. The admiral shook his long spy-glass at me,
and said, "By G — , sir, if ever you give Pompey a bit of hide
again, I will flog 3'ou."

This is all 1 liave to say of the admiral, and all the admiral ever
said to me.

CHAPTER Vni.

Since laws were made for eveiy degree,

I wonder we haven't better company on Tyburn tree.

"Beggar's Opera."

While I was on board of this ship, two poor men were exe-
cuted for mutiny. The scene w^as far more solemn to me than
anything I had ever beheld. Indeed, it was the first thing of the
kind 1 had ever been present at. When we hear of executions
on shore, we are alwaj^s prepared to read of some foul atrocious
crime, some unprovoked and unmitigated offence against the
laws of civilized society, which a jus*^. and merciful government
cannot allow to pass unpunished. With us at sea there,' are
many shades of difference ; but that which the law of our service
considers a serious ofltence is often no more than .^n ebullithjii

FRANK MILDMAY. ^'j

of local and temporary feeling, which in some cases .night be
curbed, and in others totally suppressed by timely firmness and
conciliation.

The ships had been a long time at sea, the enemy did not
appear, and there was no chance either of bringing him to
action or of returning into port. Indeed, nothing can be more
dull and monotonous than a blockading cruise " in the team,"
as we call it ; that is, the ships of the line stationed to watch an
enemy. The frigates have, in this respect, every advantage;
they are always employed on shore, often in action, and the
more men they have killed, the happier are the survivors. Some
melancholy ferment on board of the flag-ship I was in, caused
an open mutiny. Of course it was very soon quelled ; and the
ringleaders having been tried by a court-martial, two of them
were condemned to be hanged at the yard-arm of their own ship,
and were ordered for execution the following day but one.

Our courts-martial are always arrayed in the most pompous
manner, and certainly are calculated to strike the mind with
awe — even of a captain liimself. ' A gun is fired at eight o'clock
in the morning from t\\e ship where it is to be held, and a union
flag is displayed at the mizen peak. If the weather be fine,
the ship is arranged with the greatest nicety ; her decks are as
white as snow^her hammocks are stowed with care— her ropes
are taut — her yards square— her guns run out — and a guard of
marines, under the orders of a lieutenant, prepared to receive
every member of the court with the honour due to his rank.
Before nine o'clock they are all assembled ; the officers in their
undress uniform, unless an admiral is to be tried. The great
cabin is prepared, with a long table covered with a gre«n cloth.
Pens, ink, paper, prayer-books, and the Articles of \X^ar are laid
round to every member. ' Open the court," says the president.

The court is opened, and officers and men indiscriminately
stand round. The prisoners are now brought in under the
charge of the provost-marshal, a master-at-arms, with his sword
drawn, and placed at the foot of the table, on the left hand of
the judge-advocate. The court is sworn to do its duly im-
partially, and if there is any doubt, to let it go in favour of the
prisoner. Having dono. this, the members sit down, covered, if
they please.

The judge-advocate is then sworn, and the order for the
court-martial read. The prisoner is put on his trial; if he says
anything to commit himself, the court stops him, and kindly
observes, " We do not want your evidence against yourself; we
want onl)' to know what others can prove against }'ou." The
unfortunate man is offered any assistance he may require ; and
when the defence is over, the court is cleared, the doors are shut,

7§ FRANK MILDMAY.

and the minutes, which have been taken down by the judge-
advocate, are carefully read over, the credibiUty of the witnesses
weighed, and the president puts the question to the youngest
member first, " Proved, or not proved ? "

All having given their answer, if seven are in favour of
"Proved," and six against, "Proved" is recorded. The next
question — if for mutiny or desertion, or other capital crime —
"Flogging, or death?" The votes are given in the same way;
if the majority be for death, the judge-advocate writes the
sentence, beginning with the president, and ending with the
judge-advocate. The court is now opened again, the prisoner
brought in, and an awful and deep silence prevails. The
members of the court all put their hats on, and are seated ; every
one else, except the provost-marshal is uncovered. As soon as
the judge-advocate has read the sentence, the prisoner is
delivered to the custody of the provost-marshal, by a warrant from
the president ; and he has charge of him till the time for the
execution of the sentence.

About three o'clock in the afternoon, I received a message
from one of the prisoners, saying he wished much to speak with
nie. I followed the master-at-arms down to the screened cabin,
in the gun-room, where the men were confined with their legs in
irons. These irons consist of one long bar and a set of shackles.
The shackles lit the small part of the leg, just above the ankle ;
The end of the bar is then passed through, and secure i' with a
padlock. I found the poor fellows sitting on a shot-box. Their
little fneal lay before them untouched ; one of them cried bitterly ;
the other, a man of the name of Strange, possessed a great deal
of equanimity, altliough evidently deeply affected. This man
had been pretty well educated in youth, but having taken a wild
and indolent turn, had got into mischief, and to save himself
from a severe chastisement, had run away from his friends, and
entered on board a man-of-war. In this situation he had found
time, in the intervals of duty, to t;ead and to think ; he became,
in time, sullen, and separated himself from the occasional
merriment of his messmates ; and it is not improbable that this
moody temper had given rise to the mutinous acts for which he
was to suffer.

This man now apologized for the liberty he had taken, and
said he would not detain me long. "Vou see, sir," said he,
"that my poor friend is quite overcome with the horror of his
situation : nor do I wonder at it. He is very different from the
hardened malefactors that are executed on shore : we are neither
of us afraid to die ; but such a death as this, Air. Mildmay — to
be hung up like dogs, an example to the fleet, and a siiame and
reproach to our friends — this wrings our hearts ! It is this con-

FRANK MILDMAV. 79

sideration, and to save the feelings of my poor mother, that I
have sent for you. I saw you jump overboard to save a poor
fellow from drowning ; so I thought you would not mind doing
a good turn for another unfortunate sailor. I have made my
will, and appointed you my executor; and with this power of
attorney you will receive all my pay and prize-money, which I
will thank you to give to my dear mother, whose address you
will find written here. My motive for this is, that she may never
learn the history of my death. You can tell her that I died for
my country's good, which is very true, for I acknowledge the
justice of my sentence, and own that a severe example is
wanting. It is eleven years since I was in England ; I have
served faithfully the whole of that time, nor did I ever^ misbehave
except in this one instance. I think if our good king knew my
sad story, he would be merciful ; but God's will be done I Yet,
if I had a wish, it would be that the enemy's fleet would come
out, and that I might die, as I have lived, defending my country.
But, Mr. Mildmay, I have one very important question to ask
you — do you believe that there is such a thing as a future
state?"

'* Most surely,** said I j " though we all live as if we believed
there was no such thing. But why do you doubt it ? "

"Because," said the poor fellow, '* when I was an officer's
servant, I was one day tending the table in the wardroom, and
I heard the commander of a sloop of war, who was dining there
with his son, say that it was all nonsense — that there was no
future state, and the Bible was a heap of lies. I have never been
happy since."

I told him that I was extremely sorry that any officer should
have used such expressions at all, particularly before him ; that
I was incapable of restoring his mind to its proper state ; but
that I should recommend his immediately sending for the chap-
lain, who, I had no doubt, would give him all the comfort he could
desire. He thanked me for this advice, and profited by it. as he
assured me in his last moments.

"And now, sir," said he, "let me give you a piece of advice.
When you are a captain, as I am very sure you will be, do not
worry your men into mutiny by making what is called a smart
ship. Cleanliness and good order are what seamen like ; but
niggling, polishing, scraping iron bars and ring-bolts, and the
like of that, a sailor dislikes more than a flogging at the gang-
way. If, in reefing topsails, you happen to be a minute later
than another ship, never mind it, so long as your sails are well
reefed, and fit to stand blowing weather. Many a sail is split
by bad reefing, and many a good sailor has lost his life by that
foolish hurry which has done incredible harm in the navy. What

8o Frank mildmay.

can be more cruel or unjust than to Hog the last man off the
yard? seeing that he is necessarily the most active, and cannot
get in without the imminent danger of breaking his neck ; and,
moreover, that one man must be last. Depend upon it, sir,
' that nothing is well done which is done in a hurry.' But I
have kept you too long. God bless you, sir ; remember my poor
mother, and be sure you meet me on the forecastle to-morrow
mornintr."

The fatal morning came. It was eight o'clock. The gun fired
—the signal for punishment flew at our mast-head. The poor
men gave a deep groan, exclaiming, '* Lord have mercy upon
us! — our earthly career and troubles are nearly over!" The
master-at-arms came in, unlocked the padlock at the end of the
bars, and,.slipping ofF the shackles, desired the marine scnt-inels
to conduct tlie prisoners to the quarter-deck.

Here was a scene of solemnity which I hardly dare attempt
to describe. The day was clear and beautiful ; the top-gallant
yards were crossed on board of all the ships ; the colours were
flying; the crews were all dressed in white trousers and blue
jackets, and hung in clusters, like bees, on the side of the
rigging facing our ship: a guard of marines, under arms, was
placed along each gangway, but on board of our ship they were
on the quarter-deck. Two boats from each ship lay off upon
their oars alongside of us, with a lieutenant's and a corporal's
guard in each, with fixed bayonets. The hands were all turned
up by the boatswain and his mates with a shrill whistle, and
calling down each hatchway, " All hands, attend punishment ! "

You now heard the quick trampling of feet up the ladders,
but not a word was spoken. The prisoners stood on the middle
of the quarter-deck, while the captain read the sentence of the
court martial and the order from the commander-in-chief for the
execution. The appropriate prayers and psalms having been
read by the chaplain with much feeling and devotion, the poor
men were asked if they were ready ; they both replied in the
affirmative, but each requested to have a glass of wine, which
was instantly brought. They drank it off, bowing most respect-
fully to the captain and offlcers.

The admiral did not appear, it not being etiquette ; but the
prisoners desired to be kindly and gratefully remembered to him ;
they then begged to shake hands with the captain and all the
officers, which having done, they asked permission to address the
ship's company. The captain ordered them all to come aft on
the top and quarter-deck. The most profound silence reigned,
and there was not an eye but had a tear in it.

William Strange, the man who had sent for me, then said, in
a clear and audiblet one of voice: — "Brother sailors, attend to

FRANK MILDMAY. Bi

the last words of a dying man. We are brought here at the
instigation of some of you who are now standing in safety among
the crowd : you have made fools of us, and we are become the
victims to the just vengeance of the laws. Had you succeeded
in the infamous design you contemplated, what would have
been the consequences ? Ruin, eternal ruin, to yourselves and
to your families; a disgrace to your country; and the scorn of
those foreigners to whom you proposed delivering up the ship.
Thank God! you did not succeed. Let our fate be a warning
to you, and endeavour to show by your future acts your deep
contrition for the past. Now, sir," turning to the captain, "we
are ready."

This beautiful speech, from the mouth of a common sailor,
must as much astonish the reader as it then did the captain and
officers of the ship. But Strange, as I have shown, was no
common man ; he had had the advantage of education, and, Hke
many of the ringleaders at the mutiny of the Nore, was led into
the error of refusing to odey, from the conscious feeling that he
was born to conimafid.

The arms of the prisoners were then pinioned, and the chap-
Iain led the way, reading the funeral service ; the master-at-
arms, with two marine sentinels, conducted them along the
starboard gangway to the forecastle. Here a stage was erected
on either side, over the cathead, with steps to ascend to it ; a
tail block was attached to the boom-iron, at the outer extremity
of each foreyard-arm, and through this a rope was rove, one end
of which came down to the stage; the other was led along the
yard into the catharpings, and thence down upon the main-deck.
A gun was primed and /eady to fire, on the fore part of the ship,
directly beneath the scaffold.

I attended! poor Strange to the ver^' last moment; he begged
me to see that the halter, which was a piece of line, like a
clothes' line, was properly made fast round his neck, for he had
known men suffer dreadfully from the want of this precaution.
A white cap was placed on the head of each man, and when
both mounted the platform, the cap was drawn over their eyes.
They shook hands with me, with their messmates, and with the
chaplain, assuring him that they died happy, and confident in
the hopes of redemption. They then stood still while the yard
ropes were fixed to the, halter by a toggle in the running noose
of the latter ; the other end of the yard-ropes were held by some
twenty or thirty men on each side of the main-deck, where two
lieutenants of the ship attended.

All being ready, the captain waved a white handkerchief, the
gun fired, and in an instant the poor fellows were seen swinging
at either yard-arm. They had on blue jackets and white trousers,

82 FRANK MILDMAY.

and were remarkably fine-looking- young men. They did not
appear to suffer any pain i and at the expiration of an hour, the
bodies were lowered down, placed in coffins, and sent on shore
for interment.

On my arrival in England, nine months after, I acquitted
myself of my promise, and paid to the mother of William Strange
upwards of fifty pounds, for pay and prize-money. I told the
poor woman that her son had died a Christian, and had fallen for
the good of his country ; and having said this, I took a hasty
leave, for fear she should ask questions.

That the execution of a man on board of a ship of war does
not always produce a proper effect upon the minds of the
younger boys, the following fact may serve to prove. There
were two little fellows on board the ship ; one was the son of
the carpenter, the other of the boatswain. They were both of
them surprised and interested at the sight, but not proportion-
ably shocked. The next day I was down in one of the wings,
reading by the light of a purser's dip— &'///^(?, a farthing candle,
when these two boys come sliding down the main hatchway by
one of the cables. Whether they saw me, and thought I would
not 'peach, or whether they supposed I was asleep, I cannot
tell ; but they took their seats on the cables, in the heart of
the tier, and for some time appeared to be in earnest conversa-
tion. They had some articles folded up in a dirty check shirt
and pocket handkerchief; they looked up at the battens, to
which the hammocks are suspended, and producing a long rope-
yarn, tried to pass it over one of them ; but unable to reach, one
boy climbed on the back of the other, and effected two purposes,
by reeving one end of the line, and bringing it down to the cables
again. They next unrolled the shirt, and, to my surprise, took
out the boatswain's kitten, about three months old ; its fore paws
were tied behind its back, its hind feet were tied together, and a
fishing-lead attached to them ; a piece of white rag was tied over
its head as a cap.

It was now pretty evident what the fate of poor puss was likely
to be, and why the lead was made fast to her feet. The rope yarn
was tied round her neck ; they each shook one of her paws, and
pretended to cry. One of the urchins held in his hand a fife, into
which he poured as much flour as it would hold out of the hand-
kerchief ; the other held the end of the rope-yarn : every ceremony
was gone through that they could think of.

"Are you ready ? " said the executioner, or he that held the
line.

"All ready," replied the boy with the fife.

" Fire the gun I " said the hangman.

The boy applied one end of the fife to his mouth, blew out all

FRANK MILDMAY. 8^

the flour, and in this humble imitation of tlic smoke of a gun, poor
puss was run up to the batten, where she hun;^ till she was dead.
I am ashamed to say I did not attempt to save the kitten's life,
although I caused her foul murder to be revenged by tiie cat
After the body had hung a certain time, they took it down, and
buried it in the shot-locker; this was an indictable offence, as th^
smcli would have proved, so I lodged the information ; the body
was found, and, as the facts were clear, the law took its course,
to the great amusement of the bystanders, who saw the brats tied
upon a gun and well flogged.

The boatswain ate the kitten, first, he said, because he had
** iaf^ned" to eat cats in Spain ; secondly, because she had vot
died a natural death (I thought otherwise); and his last reason
was ipore singular than either of the others : he had seen a
picture in a church in Spain, of Peter's vision of the animals let
down in the sheet, and there was a cat arnong them. Observing
an alarm of scepticism in my eye, he thought proper to confirm
his assertion with 3.u oath.

** Might it not have been a rabbit ? " said I.

"Rabbit, sir! d — n me, think I didn't know a cat from a
rabbit ? Why one has got short ears and long taih and t'other
has got wiceewercee, as we calls it."

A grand carnival masquerade was to be given at Minorca, in
honour of the English, and the place chosen for the exhibition
was a church ; all which was perfectly consistent with the Romish
faith. I went in the character of a fool, and met many brother
officers there. It was a comical sight to see the anomalous
groups stared at by the pictures of the Virgin Mary and all tlie
saints, whose shrines were lit up for the occasion with wax tapers-
The admiral, rear-admiral, and most of the captains and officers
of the fleet were present; the place was about a mile from the

town.

Having hired a fool's dress, I mounted that very appropriate
animal~a donkey, and set oft" amidst t\\e shouts of a thousand
dirty vagabonds. On my arrival, I began to show off in summer-
saults, leaps, and all kinds of practical jokes. The manner in
winch I supported the character drew a little crowd around me.
I never spoke to an admiral or captain unless he addressed me
first, and then I generally sold him a bargain. Being very well
acquainted with the domestic economy of the ships on the
station, a martinet asked me if I would enter for his ship. '* No,'
said I, "you would give nie three dozen for not lashing up my
hammock properly." " Come with me," said another. "No,'
said I; "your bell-rope is too short— you cannot reach it to
order another bottle of wine before all the ofiicers have left
your table." Another promised me Kind treatment and plenty of

84 FRANK MILDMAY.

wine. *' No," said I, "in your ship I sliould be coals at
Newcastle ; besides, your coffee is too weak, your steward only
puts one ounce into six cups."

These hits afforded a good deal of mirth among the crowd, and
even the admiral himself honoured me with a smile. I bowed
respectfully to his lordship, who merely said — " Whatdo you want
of me, fool?" *' Oh, nothing- at all my lord," said I ; "I have
only a small favour to ask of you." " What is that ? " said the
admiral, " Only to make me a captain, my lord." "Oh, no,"
said the aamiral, " we never make fools captains." *' No ! " said
I, clapping my arms akimbo in a very impertinent manner;
"then that, I suppose is a new regulation. How long has the
order in council been out ? "

The good-humoured old chief laughed heartily at this piece of
impertinence ; but the captain whose ship I had so recently
quitted was silly enough to be offended : he found me out, and
went and complained of me to the captain the next day ; but my
captain only laughed at him, said he thought it an excellent joke,
and invited me to dinner.

Our ship was ordered to Gibraltar, where we arrived soon after ;
and a packet coming in from England, I received letters from my
father, announcing the death of my dearest mother. Oh how I
then regretted all the sorrows I had ever caused her ; how inces-
santly did* busy memory haunt me with all my misdeeds, and
recall to mind the last moment I had seen her ! I never supposed
1 could have regretted her half so much. My father stated that
in her last moments she had expressed the greatest solicitude for
my welfare. She feared the career of life on which I had entered
would not conduce to my eternal welfare, however much it might
promise to my temporal advantage. Her dying injunctions to me
were, never to forget the moral and rehgious principles in which
she had brought me up ; and with her last blessing, implored me
to read my Bible, and take it as my guide through life.

My father's letter was both an affecting and forcible appeal;'
and never, in the whole course of my subsequent life, were my
feelings so worked upon as tliey were on that occasion- I went
to my hammock with an aching head and an almost broken
heart. A retrospection of my life afforded me no comfort.
The numerous acts of depravity or pride, of revenge or deceit,
of which 1 had been guilty, rushed through my mind, as she tem-
pest through the rigging, and called me to the most serious and
melancholy reflections. It was some time before I could coUect
my thoughts and analyse my feelings ; but when I recalled all
my misdeeds — my departure from that path of virtue so often
and so clearly laid down by my affectionate parent — I was over-
whelmed with grief, shame and repentance. I considered how

FRANK MILDMAY. 85

often I had been on the brink of eternity ; and had I been cut
off in my sins, what would have been my destiny? I started
with horror at the danger I had escaped, and looked forward
with gloomy apprehension at those that still awaited me. I
sought in vain, among all my actions since I left my mother's
care, one single deed of virtue — one that sprang from a good
motive. There was, it is true, an outward gloss and polish for the
world to look at; but all was dark within; and 1 felt that a
keener eye than that of mortality was searching my soul, where

deception was worse than useless.

At twelve o'clock, before 1 had once closed my eyes, 1 was
called to relieve the deck", having what is called the middle-
watch, z.e, from midnight till four in the morning. We had, the
day before, buried a quarter-master, nick-named Quid, an old
seaman who had destroyed himself by drinking — no very un-
common case in His Majesty's service. The corpse of a man
who has destroyed his inside by intemperance is generally in a
state of putridity immediately after death : and the decay, par-
ticularly in warm climates, is very rapid. A few hours after
Quid's death, the body eniitted certain effluvia denoting the
necessity of immediate interment. It was accordingly sewn up
in a hammock; and as the ship lay in deep water, with a cur-
rent sweeping round the bay, and the boats being at the same

time all employed in the dockyard, the first lieutenant caused
shot to be tied to the feet, and, having read the funeral service,
launched the body overboard from the gangway, as the ship lay
at anchor.

I was walking the deck, in no very happy state of mind, reflect-
ing seriously on parts of that Bible which for more than two years
I had never looked into, when my thoughts were called to the
summons which poor Quid had received, and the beauty of the
funeral service which I had read over him — '* I am the resurrection
and the life." The moon, which had been obscured, suddenly
burst from a cloud, and a cry of horror proceeded from the look-out
man on the starboard gangway. I ran to inquire the cause, and
found him in such a nervous state of agitation that he could only
say, — "Quid — Quid!" and point with his finger into the water.

I looked over the side, and, to m}' amazement there was the
body of Quid,

" All in drearj' hammock slirou led,"

perfectly upright, and floating with the head and shoulders above
water. A slight undulation of the waves gave it the appearance
of nodding its head ; while the rays of the moon enabled us to
trace the remainder of the body underneath the surface. For a
few moments, I felt a horror which I cannot describe, and con-

86 FRANK MlLDMAY.

templated the object in awful silence ; while my blood ran cold,
and I felt a sensation as if my hair was standing on end. . I was
completely taken by surprise, and thought the body had risen up
to warn me ; but in a few seconds I regained my presence of mind,
and I soon perceived the origin of this reappearance of the corpse.
I ordered the cutter to be manned, and, in tlie meantime, went
down to inform the first lieutenant of what had occurred. He
laughed, and said, " I suppose the old boy finds salt water not
quite so palatable as grog. Tie some more shot to his feet, and
bring the old fellow to his moorings again. Tell him the next
time he trips his anchor, not to run on board of us. He had his
regular allowance of prayer: I gave him the whole service, and I
shall not give him any more." So saying, he went to sleep again.

This apparently singular circumstance is easily accounted -for.
Bodies decomposing from pulridity, generate a quantity of gas,
which swells them up to an enormous size, and renders them
buoyant. The body of this man was thrown overboard just as
decomposition was in progress : the shot made f^xst to the feet
were sufficient to sink it at the time ; but in a few hours after,
were not competent to keep it at the bottom, and it came up to
the surface in that perpendicular position which I have described.
The current in the bay being at the time either slack or
irregular, it floated at the spot whence it had been launched
into the water.

The cutter, being manned, was sent with more shot to attach
to the body, and sink it. When they attempted to hold it wim
the boat-hook, it eluded the touch, turning round and round,
or bobbing under the water, and coming up again, as if in
sport: but accident saved thern any further trouble; for the
bowman, reproached by the boat's crew for not hooking the
body, got angry, and darting the spike of the boat-hook into
the abdomen, the pent-up gas escaped with a loud whiz, and
the corpse instantly sank like a stone. Many jokes were passed
on the occasion ; but I was not in humour for joking o\i serious
subjects : and before the watch was out I had made up my
mind to go home, and to quit the service, as I found I had no
chance of obeying my mother's dyirig injunctions if I remained
where I was.

The next morning I stated my wishes to the captain, not of
quitting the service, but of going home in consequence of family
arrangements. This was about as necessary as that I should
make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The captain had been told of
the unpleasant news I had received, and having listened to all I
had to say, he replied, that if I could make up my mind to remain
with him it would be better for me. >

*' You are now," said he, " accustomed to my ways — you know

FRANK MILDMAY. 87

your duty, and do your work well ; indeed, I have made honourable
mention of you to the Admiralty in my public letter : you know
your own business best " (here he was mistaken — he ought not to
have parted with me for the reasons which I offered); '* but my
advice to you is to stay."

I thanked him — but being bent and determined on going home,
he acceded to my request, gave me my discharge, and added a
very handsome certificate of good conduct, far beyond the usually
prescribed form ; he also told me that if I chose to return to him
he would keep a vacancy for me. I parted with the officers, my
messmates, and the ship's company with regret. I had been more
than three years with them ; and my stormy commencement had
settled down into a quiet and peaceful acknowledgment of my
supremacy in the berth ; my qualities were such as to make me a
universal favourite, and I was followed down the ship's side with
the hearty good wishes of all. I was pulled in the cutter on board
of a ship of the line, in which I was ordered to take my passage
to England.

CHAPTER IX.

How happy could I be with either.
Were t'other dear charmer away !

'* Beggar's Opera."

Hell, they say, is paved with good intentions. If so, it has a
much better pavement than it deserves; for the "trail of the
serpent is over us all." Then why send to hell the greatest
proof of our perfection before the fall, and of weakness subse-
quent to it? Honest and sincere professions of amendment
must carry with them to the Throne of Grace a strong recom-
mendation, even if we are again led astray by the alluremeuts
of sense and the snares of the world. At least, our tears of con-
trition and repentance, our sorrow for the past, and our firm
resolves for the future, must have given "joy in heaven," and
consequently cannot have been converted into pavement for the
infernal regions.

Pleasure and pain, in youth, are, for the most part, transient
impressions, whether they arise from possession or loss of worldly
enjoyment, or from a sense of having done well or ill in our
career. The excitement, though strong, is not durable ; and thus
it was with me. I had not been more than four days on board the
ship of the line in which I took my passage to Kngland, when I
felt my spirits buoyant, and my levity almost amounting to delirium.

88 FRANK MILDMAY.

The hours of reflection were at first shortened, and then dismissed
entirely The general mirth of my new shipmates, at the thoughts
of once more revisiting their dear native land, the anticipation of
indulging in the sensual worship of Bacchus and Venus, the
constant theme of discourse among the midshipmen — tiie loud
and senseless applause bestowed upon the coarsest ribaldry — these
ail had their share in destroying that religious frame of mind in
which I had parted with my first captain, and seemed to awaken
me to a sense of the folly I had been guilty of in quitting a
ship where I was not only at the head of my mess, but in a
fair way for promotion. I considered that I had acted the part
of a madman, and had again begun to renew my career of
sin and of folly, a little, and but a little, sobered by the recent
event.

We arrived in England after the usual passage from the Rock.
I consented to pass two days at Portsmouth, with my new com-
panions, to revisit our old haunts, and to commit those excesses
which fools and knaves applauded and partook of at my expense,
leaving me full leisure to repent, after we separated. J, how-
ever, did muster resolution enough to pack my trunk; and,
after an extravagant supper at the Fountain, retired to bed
intoxicated, and the next morning, with an aching head, threw
myself into the coach and drove ofE for London. A day of
much hilarity is generally succeeded by one of depression. This
is fair and natural ; we draw too largely on our stock, and
squander our enjoyment like our money, leaving us the next day
with low spirits and a lower purse.

A stupid dejection succeeded the boisterous mirth of the over-
night. I slumbered in a-corner of the coach till about one o'clock,
when we reached Godalming, where I alighted, took a slight re-
freshment, and resunied my seat. As we drove along, I had more
leisure, and was in a fitter frame of mind to review my past con-
duct since I had quitted myshipatGibraltar. My self-examination,
as usual, produced no satisfactory results. I perceived that the
example of bad company had swept away every trace of good
resolution which 1 had made on the death of my mother, I
saw with grief, that I had no dependence on myself; I had
forgotten all my good intentions, and the firm vows of amend-
ment with which 1 had bound myself, and had yielded to the first
temptation which came in my w^ay.

In vain did I call up every black and threatening cloud of
domestic sorrow which was to meet me on my return home — the
dreadful vacuum occasioned by my mother's death — the grief of
my father — my brother and my sisters in deep mourning, and the
couch on which I had left the best of parents when I turned away
my thoughtless head from her in the anguish of her grief. I re-

FRANK MILDMAY 8g

newed my promise of amendment, and felt some secret consolation
in doing so.

When I arrived at my father's door, the servant who let me in
greeted me with a loud and hearty welcome. I ran into the
drawing-room, where I found that my brother and sisters had a
party of children to spend the evening with them. They were
dancing to the music of a piano, played on by my aunt, while my
father sat in his arm-chair, in high good-humour.

This was a very different scene from what I had expected. I
was prepared for a sentimental and affecting meeting ; and my
feelings were all worked up to their full bearing for the occasion.
Judge then of the sudden revulsion in my mind, when 1 found
mirth and geod-humour where I expected tears and lamen-
tations. It had escaped my recollection, that although the
death of my mother was an event new. to me, it had hap-
pened six months before I had heard of it; and, consequently,
with them grief had given way to time. I was astonished at
their apparent want of feeling ; while they gazed with surprise
at the sigiit of me, and the symbols of woe displayed in my
equipment.

My father welcomed me with surprise ; asked where my ship
was, and what had brought her home. The fact was, that in
my sudden determination to return to England, I had spared
myself the trouble of writing to make known my intentions ;
and, indeed, if I had written, I should have arrived as soon as
my letter, unless (which I ought to have done) 1 had written
on my arrival at Portsmouth, instead of throwing away my time
in the very worst species of dissipation. Unable, therefore, in
the presence of many witnesses, to give my father that expla-
nation which he had a right to expect, I suffered greatly for a
time in his opinion. He very naturally supposed that some
di^raceful conduct on my part was the cause of my sudden
return. His brow became clouded and his mind seemed occupied
with deep reflection.

This behaviour of my father, together with the continued
noisy mirth of my brother and sisters, gave me considerable
pain. I felt as if, in the sad news of my mother's death, I had
over-acted my part in the feeling I had shown, and the sacrifice
I had made in quitting my ship. On explaining to my father,
in private, the motives of my conduct, I was not successful.
He could not believe that my mother's death was the sole cause
of my return to England. 1 stood many firm and angry inter-
rogations as to the possible good which could accrue to me by
quitting my ship . 1 showed him the captain's handsome certificate,
which only mortified him the more. In vain did I plead my
excess of feeling. He replied with an argument that I feel to

go FRANK MILbMAY.

have been unanswerable— that I had quitted the ship when on
the very pinnacle of favour, and in the road to fortune. "And
what," said he, "is to become of the navy and the country, if
every olBcer is to return home when he receives the news of the
death of a relation ? "

In proportion as my father's arguments carried conviction,
they did away, at the same time, with all the good impressions
of my mother's dying injunction. If her death was a matter of
so little importance, her last words were equally so; and from
that moment I ceased to think of either. My father's treatment
if me was now very different from what it had ever been during-
ny mother's lifetime. My requests were harshly refused, and I
^as lectured more as a child than as a lad 6f eightee7iy who had
seen much of the world. • boldness on his part was met by a
spirit of resistance on mine. Pride came in to my assistance,
A dispute arose one evening, at the finale of which I gave him
to understand that if I could not live quietly under his roof, I
would quit it. He calmly recommended me to do so. Little
supposing that I should have taken his advice, I left the room,
banging the door after me, packed up a few changes of linen,
and took my departure, unperceived by any one, with my bundle
on my shoulder, and about sixteen shillings in my pocket.

Here was a great mismanagement on the part of my father,
and still greater on mine. He was anxious to get me afloat again,
and I had no sort of objection to going ; but his impatience and
my pride spoiled all. Reflection soon came to me, but came too
late. Night was fast approaching : I had no house over my head,
and my exchequer was in no very flourishing condition. I had
walked six miles from my father's house, when I began to tire.
It became dark, and I had no fixed plan, A gentleman's car-
riage came by ; I took up a position in the rear of it, and had
/idden four miles, when, as the carriage was slowly dragging up
a hill, I was discovered by the parties inside ; and the postilion,
who had dismounted and been informed of it, saluted me with
two or three smart cuts of his whip, intimating that I was of no
US6, but rather an incumbrance which could be dispensed with.

My readers know that I had long since adopted the motto
of our northern neighbours, Nemo me, &c. ; so waiting very
quietly till the driver had mounted his horses, at the top of the
hill, that he might be more at my mercy, I discharged a stone
at nis head which caused him to vacate his seat, and fall under
his horse's belly. The animals, frightened at his fall, turned
short round to the right, or they would have gone over him, and
ran furiously down the hill. The post-boy, recovering his legs,
followed his horses without bestowing a thought on the author of
the mischief; and I made all the haste I could in the opposite

tl^ANK MILDMAV. gi

direction, perfectly indifferent as to the fate of the parties Inside
of the carnage, for I still smarted with the blows I had received.

"Fools, and unkind," muttered I, looking back, as they dis-
appeared at the bottom of the hill, with frightful velocity,
"30U are rightly served. I was a trespasser, 'tis true, but a
civil request would have had all the effect you required—
that of inducing' me to get down ; but a whip to me — " And
with my blood still boiliiig at the recollection, I hastily pursued
my journey.

In a few minutes I reached the . little town of , the

lights of which were visible at the time the horses had turned
down the hill and ran away. Entering the first inn I came to, I
found the large room below occupied by a set of strolling players,
who had just returned from a successful performance of ** Romeo
and Juliet" ; and, from the excitement among them, it was easy
to perceive that their success had been fully equal to their expecta-
tions. They were fourteen in number, seated round a table, not
indifferently covered with the good things of this life ; they were
clad in theatrical costume, which, with the rapid circulation of
the bottle, gave the whole scene an air of romantic freedom,
calculated to interest the mind of a thoughtless halt-pay mid-
shipman.

Being hungry after my walk, I determined to join the party
at supper, which, being a fadle d' hote was easily effected. One
of the actresses, a sweet little, well-proportioned creature,
with large black eyes, was receiving, with apparent indifference,
the compliments of the better sort of bumpkins and young
farmers of the neighbourhood. In her momentary and occa-
sional smiles, she discovered a beautiful set of small, white
teeth ; but when she resumed her pensive attitude, I was
sensible of an enchanting air of melancholy, whicli deeply
interested me in favour of this poor girl, who was evidently in
a lower situation in'^life than that for which she had been
educated. The person who sat nearest to her, vacated his seat
as soon as ne found his attentions were thrown away. I instantly
took possession of the place, and, observing the greatest respect,
entered at once into conversation with her.

Whether she was pleased with my address and language, as
being superior to what she was usually compelled to listen to, or
whether she was flattered by my assiduous attention, I know not;
but she gradually unbent, and became more animated; showing
great natural talent and a highly-cultivated mind ; so that I was
every moment more astonished to find her in such a situation.
Our conversation had lasted a considerable time ; and I had just
made a remark to which she had not replied, apparently strug-
gling with concealed emotion, when we were interrupted by a

92 FRANK MILDMAY.

carriage driving up to the door, and cries of " He^p ! help ! " I
instantly quitted the side of my new acquaintance, and flew to
answer the signal of distress.

A gentleman in the carria^ was supporting a young lady in
his arms, to all appearance lifelessi With my assistance, she
was speedily removed into the house, and conveyed to a bed-
room. A surgeon was sent for, but none was to be had ; the
only practitioner of the town being at that moment gone to
attend one of those cases which, according to Mr. Malthus, are
much too frequent for the good of the country. I discovered
that the carriage had been overturned, and that the young lady
had been insensible ever since. There was no time to be lost;
I knew that immediate bleeding was absolutely necessary. I
had acquired thus much of surgical knowledge in the course of
my professional duties. I stated my opinion to the gentleman ;
and aUhough my practice had been very slight, offered my
services to perform the operation. This otfrr was accepted
with thanks by the grateful fatiier, for such 1 found he was.
With ray sharp penknife I ojiencd a vein in one of the
whitest arms I ever beheld. After a few moments' chafing,
the blood flowed more IrceJy ; the pulse indicateii returning
animation; a pair of large blue eyes opened suddenly upon me
like a masked battery ; and so alarmingly susceptible was I of
the tender passion, that I quite forgot the little actress whom I
had left at the supper table, and who, a few minutes before, had
occupied my whole thoughts and attention.

Having succeeded in restoring the fair patient to consciousness,
I prescribed a warm bed, some tea, and careful watching. My
orders were punctually obeyed ; I then quitted the apartment of
my patient, and began to ruminate over the hurried and singular

events of the day.

I had scarcely had time to decide in my own mind on the
respective merits of my two rival beauties, when the surgeon
arrived; and, being ushered into the sick room, declared that
the patient had been treated with skill, and that in all proba-
bility she owed her life to my presence of mind. " But, give
me leave to ask," said the doctor, addressing the father, "how
the accident happened ? " The gentleman replied, that a
scoundrel, having got up behind the carriage, had been flogged
off by the postilion ; and, in revenge, had thrown a stone,
which knocked the driver off his horse : they took fright,
turned round, and ran away down the hill towards their own
stables ; and after running five miles, upset the carriage against
a post, *' by which accident," said he, ''my poor daughter was
nearly killed."

•' What a villain ! " said the doctor.

FRANK MILDMAY. 93

*' Villain, indeed," erhoed I; and so I felt I was* I turned
sick at the thought of -what my ungoverned passion had done ;
and my regret was not a little increased by the charms of my
lovely victim ; but I soon recovered from the shock, particularly
when I saw that no suspicion attached to me. I therefore
received the praises of the father and the doctor with a
becoming modest diffidence; and, with a hearty shake of the
hand from the grateful parent, was wished a good night and
retired to my bed.

As I stood before the looking-s:Iass, laying my watch and
exhausted purse on the dressing-table, and leisurely untying my
cravat, I could not forbear a glance of approbation at what I
thought a very handsome and a very impudent face : I
soliloquised on the events of the day, and, as usual, found
the summing-up very much against me. "This, then, sir/'
said T, *' is your road to repentance and reform. You insult
your father; quit his house; get up, like a vagabond, behind
a g-entleman's carnage; are Hogged off, break the ribs of an
honest man, who has a wife and family to support out of his hard
earnings — are the occasion of a carriage being overturned, and
very nearly cause the death of an amiable girl 1 And all this
mischief in the short space of six hours, not to say a word of your
intentions towards the little actress, which I presume are none of
the most honourable. Where is all this to end ?

"At the gallows," said I, in reply to myself, — "the more
probably, too, as my finances have no means of improvement,
except by a miracle or highway robbery. I am in love with
two girls, and have only two clean shirts ; consequently there is
no proportion between the demand and the supply." With
this medley of reflections I fell asleep. I was awoke early by
the swallows twittering at the windows ; and the first question
which was agitated in my brain was, what account I should give
of myself to the father of the young lady, when interrogated by
him, as I most certainly should be. I had my choice between
truth and falsehood: the latter (such is the force of habit), I
think, carried it hollow ; but I determined to leave that point
to the spur of the moment, and act according to circumstances.
My meditations were interrupted by the chambermaid, who,
tapping at my door, said she came to tell me "thatthe gentleman
that belojiged to the young lady that I was so kind to was waiting
breakfast for me."

The thought of sittmg at table with the dear creature whose
brains I had so nearly spilled upon the road the night before,
quite overcame me ; and leaving the fabric of my history to
chance or to inspiration, I darted from my bedroom to the parlour,
where the stranger awaited me. He received me with greaS

94 FRANK MILDMAY.

cordiality, again expressed hi? obligations, and informed me that
his name was Somerville, of .

I had some faint recollection of having heard the name
mentioned by my father, and was endeavouring to recall to
mind on what occasion, when Mr. Somerville interrupted me by
saying, that he hoped he should have the pleasure of knowing the
name of the young gentleman who had conferred such an obliga-
tion upon him. I answered that my name was Mildmay; for I
had no time to tell a lie.

"I should be happy to think," said he, " that you were the

son of my old friend and schoolfellow, Mr. Mildmay, of ; but

that cannot well be," said he, "for he had only two sons-
one at college, the other as brave a sailor as ever lived, and
now in the ]^iediterarnean : but perhaps you are some relation
of his?"

He had just concluded this speech, and before I had time
to reply to it, the door opened, and Miss Somerville entered.
We have all heard a great deal about " love at first sight ; " but
I contend, tliat the man who would not, at the very first
glimpse of Emily Somerville, have fallen desperately in love
with her, could have had neither heart nor soul. If I thought
her lovely when she lay in a state of insensibility, what did
I think of her when her form had assumed its wonted anima-
tion, and her cheeks their natural colour ? To describe a
perfect beauty never was my forte. I can only say, that Miss
Somerville, as far as I am a judge, united in her person all
the component parts of the finest specimen of her sex in
England; and these were joined in such harmony by the
skilful hand of Nature, thatlwasreadyto kneel down and adoreher.

As she extended her white hand to me, and thanked me for
my kindness, I was so taken aback with the sudden appearance
and address of this beautiful vision, that I knew not what to
say. I stammered out something, but have no recollection
whether it was French or English. I lost my presence of
mind, and the blushes of conscious guilt on my face at that
moment, might have been mistaken for those of unsophisticated
innocence. That these exteriial demonstrations are often
confounded, and that such was the case on the present occasion,
there can be no doubt. My embarrassment was ascribed to that
modesty ever attendant on real worth.

It has been said that true merit blushes at being discovered ,*
but I have lived to see merit that could not blush, and the want
of it that could, while the latter has marched off with all the
honours due to the former. The blush that burned on m^
clieek, at that moment, would hnve gone far to have condemned a
criminal at the Old Bailey ; but in *he countciiance of a tiaud-Dume

FRANK MILDMAY. 95

young; man, was received as the unfailing marks of '* a pure,

ino-enuous soul."

1 had been too long" at school to be ashamed of wearing"
laurels I had never won ; and, having- often received a flog-g^ing-
which I did not deserve, I thought myself equally well entitled
to any advantages which the chances of war might throw in my
way; so having set my tender conscience at rest, I sat
myself down between my new mistress and her father, and
made a most delightful breakfast. Miss Somerville, although
declared out of danger by the doctor, was still languid, but able
to continue her journey ; and as they had not many miles
farther to go, Mr. Somerville proposed a delay of an hour
#or two.

Breakfast ended, he quitted the room to arrange for their
departure, and I found myself ^efe d tete with the young lady.
During this short absence I found out that she was an only
daughter, and that her mother was dead ; she again introduced
the subject of my family name, and I found also that before
Mrs. Somerville's death, my father had been on terms of great
intimacy with Emily's parents. I had not replied to Mr.
Somerviile's question. A similar one was now asked by his
dauglitcr; and so closely was I interrogated by her coral lips

and searching blue eyes, that I could not tell a lie. It would have
been a horrid aggravation of guilt, so I honestly owned that I was
the son of her father's friend, Mr. Mildmay.

" Good Heaven ! " said she, " why had you not told my father

so?"

*' Because I must have said a great deal more besides," added

I, making her my confidante. ** I am the midshipman whom Mr.

Somerville supposes to be in the Mediterranean, and I ran away

from my father's house last night."

Although I was as concise as possible in my story, I had not
finished before Mr. Somerville came in.

"Oh, papa," said his daughter, "this young gentleman is
Frank Mildmay, after all."

I gave her a reproachful glance for having betrayed my
secret ; her father was astonished — she looked confused, and
so did I. Nothing now remained for me but an O'^^n and
iandid confession, taking especial care, however, to conceal the
part I had acted in throwing the stone. Mr. Somerville reproved
me very sharply, which I'thought was taking a great liberty; but
lie softened it down by adding, "If you knew how dear the
interests of your family are to me, you would not be surprised at
my assuming the tone of a parent." 1 looked at Emily and
pocketed the affront.

"And Frank," pursued he, "when I tell you that, although

96 FRANK MILDMAY.

the distance between your father's property and mine has in
some measure interrupted our long intimacy, I have been
watching your career in the service with interest, you will,
perhaps, take my advice, and return home. Do not let me have
to regret that one to whom I am under such obHgations should
be too proud to acknowledge a fault. I admire a high spirit in
a good cause : but towards a parent it can never be justified.
It may be unpleasant to you ; but I will prepare the way by
writing to your father : and do you stay here till you hear from

me. I should wish for the pleasure of your company at •

Hall ; but your father has prior claims : and I hardly need tell
3'ou, that once restored and reconciled to him, I expect as long
a visit as you can afford to pay me. Think on what 1 have said ;
and, in the meantime, as I daresay your finances are not very
flourishing" — (thinks I, you are a witch !) — ■*' allow me to leave
this ten-pound note in your hands." This part of his request was
much more readily complied witii than the other.

He left the room, as he said, to pay the bill ; but, I beneve,
it was to give his fair daughter an opportunity of tr3'ing the
effect of her eloquence on my proud spirit, which gave no great
promise of concession. A few minutes with her^ did more than
both the fathers could have effected, the most powerful motive to
submission being the certainty that I could not visit at her father's
house until a reconciliation had taken place between me and
mine. I therefore told her that, at her solicitation, I would submit
to any liberal terms.

This being agreed to, her father observed that the carriage
was at the door, shook hands with me, and led his lovely
daughter away, whose last nod and parting look confirmed all my
good resolutions.

Reader, whatever you may think of the trifling incidents of
the last twenty-four hours, you will find that they involved
consequences of vast importance to the writer of this memoir.
Pride induced me to quit my father's house ; revenge stimulated
me to an act which brought the heroine of this story o:i the
stage, for such will Emily Somervilic prove to be. But, alas ! by
what fatal infatuation was Mr. Somerville induced to leave me
my own master at an inn, with ten pounds in my pocket,
instead of taking me with him to his own residence, and
keeping me till he had heard from my father ? The wisest
men often err in points which at first appear of trivial import-
ance, but which prove in the sequel to have been fraught
with evil.

Left to myself, I ruminated for some time on what had
occurred ; and the beautiful Emily Somerville having vanished

FRANK MILDMAY. 97

whom I had so suddenly parted on the previous night ; still I
must say, that 1 was so much occupied with the charms of her
successor, that I sought the society of the youthful IMelpomene
more with a view to beguile the time, than from any serious
prepossession.

1 found her in the large room, where they were all assembled.
She received me as a friend, and evinced a partiality which
flattered my vanity. In three days, 1 received a letter from Mc.
Somerville, inclosing one from my father, whose only request
was, that I would return home, and meet him as if nothing
unpleasant had occurred. This 1 determined to do ; but 1 had
now been so long in the company of Eugenia (for tbat was the
actress's name), that I could not very easily part with her. In
fact, I was desperately in love, after my fashion ; and though
perhaps I could not with truth say the same of her, yet tliat
she was partial to my company was evident. I had obtained
from her the history of her life, which, in the following chapter,
I shall give in her own words.

CHAPTER X

She is \'irtuous, thouf^h bred behind the scenes : and, whatever pleasure
she may feel in seeing herself applauded on the stage, she would much
rather pass fi)r a modest giil, than for a good actress. — ** GlL Blas."

" jMy Father," said Eugenia, " was at the head of this tompany
of strolling players ; my mother was a young lady of respect-
able family, at a boarding-school. She took a fancy to my
father in the character of Rolla ; and being, of course, deservedly
forsaken by her friends, became a prima donna. I was the
only fruits of this conncclion, and the only solace of my molljcr
in lier affliction, for she bitterly repented the rash step she had
taken,

" At five years old, my father proposed that I should take
the character of Cupid, in the opera of '-Telemaque.' To
this my mother strongly objected, declaring that I never should
go upon the stage ; and this created a disunion which was daily
embittered by my father's unkind treatment, both of my mother
and myself, I never left her side for fear of a kick, which I was
sure to receive when I had not her protection. She employed
all her spare time in my instruction, and, notwithstanding the
folly she had been guilty of, she was fully competent to the task.

" When I was seven years old, a relation of my mother died.

g8 FRANK MILDMAY.

and bequeathed fifteen thousand pounds, to be equally divided
between her and lier two sisters, securing my mother's portion
in such a manner as to prevent my father having any control over
it. As soon as my mother obtained this information, she quitted
my father, who was too prudent to spend either his time or his
money in pursuit of her. Had he been aware of her sudden
change of fortune, he might have acted differently.

" We arrived in London, took possession of the property, which
was all in the funds ; and then, fearing my father might gain
information of her wealth, my mother set off for France, taking
me with her. There I passed the happiest days of my life ; my
mother spared no pains, and went to considerable expense in my
education. The best masters were provided for me in singing,
dancing, and music; and so much did I profit by their instruction,
that I was very soon considered a pretty specimen of my country-
women, and much noticed accordingly.

** From France we went to Italy, where we remained two years,
and where my vocal education was completed. My poor mother
lived all this time on the principal of her fortune, concluding it
would last for ever. At last she was taken ill of a fever, and died.
This was about a year ago, when I was only sixteen. J^olirious
many days before her death, she could give me no instructions as
to my future conduct, or where to apply for resources. I
happened, however, to know her banker in London, and wrote to
him immediately; in answer, he informed me that a balance of
forty pounds was all that remained in his hands.

'* I believe he cheated me, but I could not help it. My spirits
were not depressed at this news ; I sold all the furniture ; paid
the little debts to the tradespeople, and, with nine pounds in my
pocket, took my place in the diligence, and set off for London,
where I arrived without accident. I read in the newspaper,
at the inn, that a provincial company was in want of a young
actress for genteel comedy. My mother's original passion for
the ^tage never left her; and, during our stay in France, we
amused ourselves with la petite comedies in which I always took
a part.

" Without resources, I thought a precarious mode of obtaining
a livelihood was better than a vicious one, and determined to
try my fortme on the stage : so I ordered a hack, and drove
to the office indicated. I felt a degree of comfort when I dis-
covered that my father was the advertising manager, although
I was certain he would never recognise me. I was engaged by
the agent, the bargain was approved of, and in a day or two
after, was ordered to a country town some miles from the
metropolis.

" 1 arrived ; my father did not know me, nor did I wish that he

FRANK MILDMAY. 99

should, as I did not intend to remain long in' the company.
In short, I aspired to the London boards ; but aware that I
wanted practice, without which it would have been useless to
have offered myself, I accepted this situation Avithout delay, and
applied with great assiduity to the study of my profession. My
father, I found, had married again; and my joining the company
added nothing to his domestic harmony, my stepmother becoming
immoderately jealous of me ; but I took good care to keep
my own secret, and never exposed myself for one moment
to any suspicion of my character, which hitherto, thank Heaven,
has been pure, though I am exposed to a thousand temptations,
and beset by the actors to become the wife of one, or the mistress
of another.

''Among those who proposed the latter was my honoured
father, to whom, on that account, 1 was one day on the point of
revealing the secret of my birth, as the only means of saving
myself from his importunities. He was at last taken ill, and
died only three months ago, not before I had completed my
engagements, and obtained an increased salary of one guinea
and a half per week. It is my intention to quit the company at
the expiration of my present term, whicli will take place in two
months, for I am miserable here, although I am quite at a loss to
know what will be my future destination."

In return for her confidence I imparted as much of my
history as I thought it necessary for her to know. I became
deeply fascinated, — I forgot Miss Somerville, and answered my
father's letter respectfully and kindly. He informed me that he
had procured my name to be entered on the books of the guard-
ship at Spithead ; but that I might gain time to loiter by the side
of Eugenia, I begged his permission to join my ship without
returning home, alleging, as a reason, that delay would soften.
down any asperity of feeling occasioned by the late fracas. This,
in his answer, he agreed to, enclosing a handsome re-mittance ;
and the same post brougiit a pressing invitation from Mr.
Somerville to come to Hall.

My little actress informed me that the company would set out
in two days for the neighbourhood of Portsmouth ; and, as I
found that they would be more than a fortnight in travelling, I
determined to accept the invitation, and quit her for the present.
I had been more than a week in her society. At parting, I
professed my admiration and love. Silence, and a starting tear,
were her only acknowledgement. I saw that she was not dis-
pleased ; and I left her with joyful anticipations

But what did I anticipate, as I rolled heedlessly along in the
chaise to Hall ? Sensual gratification at the expense of .a

ioo :frank mildmay.

poor defenceless orphan, whose future life would be clouded with
misery. I could see my wickedness, and moralize upon it ; but
the devil was triumphant within me, and 1 consoled myself with
tlie vuiL^ar adat^e, " Needs must when the devil drives." With
this I dismissed the subject to think of Emily, whose residence
was now in si<;"ht.

I arrived at Hall, was kindly received and welcomed by

both father and motlier : but on this visit I must not dwelh
When I reflect on it, I hate myself and human nature ! Could I
be trusted ? yet I inspired unbounded confidence. Was I not as
vicious as otie of my age could be ? Yet I made them believe I
was almost perfection. Did I deserve to be happy ? Yet 1 was
so, and more so than I had ever been before, or have been since.
I was like the serpent in Kden, though without his vile intentions.
Beauty and virtue united to keep my passions in subjection.
When they had nothing to feed on, they concealed themselves in
the inmost recesses of my bosom.

Had I remained always with Emily, I should have been
reclaimed; but when I quitted her [ lost all my good feelings and
good resolutions ; not, however, before the bright image of virtue
had lighted up in vi^y bosom a holy liame, which has never been
entirely extinguished. Occasionally dimmed, it has afterwards
burnt up with renewed brightness ; and, as a beacon-light,
has often guided me through perils that might* have over-
whalmed me

Compelled at last to quit this earthly paradise, I told her, at
parting, tl]at I loved her, adored her; and to prove that I was
in earnest, and that she believed me, I obtained a lock of her

hair. When I left Hall, it was my intention to have joined

my ship, as I had agreed with my father; but the temptation
to follow up my success w'ith the fair and unfortunate Eugenia,
was too strong to be resisted ; at least I thought so, and there-
fore hardly made an effort to conquer it. True I did, pro for md^
make appearance on board the guard-ship, had my name
entered on the books, that I might not lose my time of servitude,
and that I might also deceive my father. All this being duly
accomplished, I obtained leave of absence from my first lieuten-
ant, an old acquaintance, who, in a ship crowded with supernu-
merary midshipmen, was but too happy in getting rid of me and
my chest.

I hastened to the rendezvous, and found the company in full
activity. Eugenia, when we parted, expressed a wish that our
acquaintance might not be renewed. She feared for her own cha-
racter as well as mine, and very sensibly and feelingly observed
that my professional prospects might be blasted ; but, having

FRANK MILDMAY. tot

r

ma.de up my mind, I had an answer to all objections. I pre-
sented myself to the manager, and requested to be admitted mto
the company.

Having taken this step, Eugenia saw that my attachment was
not to be overcome ; that I was willing to make any sacrifice
for her. 2 was accepted ; my salary was fixed at one guinea
per week, with seven shillings extra for playing the flute. I was
indebted for my ready admission into this society to my voice :
the manager wanted a first singer. My talent in this science
was much admired. I signed my agreement the same evening
for two months ; and being presented in due form to my
brethren of the buskin, joined the supper-table, where there
was more of abundance than of delicacies. I sat by Eugenia,
whose decided preference for me excited the jealousy of
my new associates. I measured them all with my eye, and
calculated tliat, with fair play, I was the best man among them.

The play-bills announced the tragedy of " Romeo and Juliet."
I was to be the hero, and four days were allowed me to pre-
pare myself. The whole of that time was passed in the com-
pany of Eugenia, who, while she gave me unequivocal proofs of
attachment, admitted of no freedom. The day of rehearsal
arrived, I was found perfect, and loudly applauded by the com-
pany. Six o'clock came, the curtain rose, and sixteen tallow
candles displayed my person to an audience of about one hundred
people.

No one who has not been in the situation can form any idea
of the nervous feeling of a debutant on such an occasion. The
troupe, with the exception of Eugenia, was of a description
of persons whom I despise, and the audience mostly clod-
hoppers, who could scarcely read or write ; yet I was abashed,
and acquitted myself badly, until the balcony scene, when I
became enlivened and invigorated by the presence and smiles of
my mistress. In the art of love-making I was at home, particu-
larly with the Juliet of that night. I entered at once into the
spirit of the gi'eat dramatist, and the curtain dropped amidst
thunders of applause. My name was announced for a repetition
of the play, and I was dragged 'forward before the curtain, to
thank the grocers, tallow-chandlers, cheesemongers, and plough-
men for the great honour they had done me. Heavens! howl
felt the degradation ; but it was too late.

The natural result of this constant intercourse with Eugenia,
may easily be anticipated. 1 do not attempt to extenuate my
fault — it v^'as inexcusable, and has brought its punishment; but
for poor, forlorn Eugenia I plead ; her virtue fell before my im-
portunity and my personal appearance. She fell a victim to
those unhappy circumstances of which I basely took the ad-

102 FRANK MILDMAY.

vantage. Two months I had lived with her, as man and wife ;
I forgot ray family, profession, and even Emily I was now
upon the ship's books : and though no ono knew anything of
me, my father was ignorant of my absence from my ship —
everything was sacrificed to Eugenia. I acted with her, strolled
the fields, and vowed volumes of stuff about constancy. When
we played, we filled the house ; and some of the more respect-
able townspeople offered to introduce us to the London boards,
but this we both declined. We cared for nothing but the society
of each other.

An>i now that time has cooled the youthful ardour that carried
me away, let me do justice to this unfortunate girl. She was the
most natural, unaffected and gifted person I ever met with.
Boundless wit, enchanting liveliness, a strong mind, and self-
devotion towards me, the first and, I firmly believe, the only
object she ever loved; and her love for me ceased only with
her life. Her faults, though not to be defended, may be pal-
liated and deplored, because they were the defects of education.
Her infant days were passed in scenes of domestic strife, profli-
gacy, and penury ; her maturer years, under the guidance of a
weak mother, were employed in polishing, not strengthening,
the edifice of her understanding, and the external ornaments
only served to accelerate the fall of the fabric, and to increase
the calamity.

Bred up in France, and almost in the fervour of the Revolu-
tion, she had imbibed some of its libertine opinions; among
others, that marriage was a civil contract, and if entered into at
all, might be broken at the pleasure of either party. This idea
was strengthened and confirmed in her by the instances she had
seen of matrimonial discord, particularly in her own family.
When two people, who fancied they loved, had bound themselves
by an indissoluble knot, they felt from that time the irksomeness
of restraint, which they would never have felt if they had
possessed the power of separation ; and would have lived
happily together if they had not been compelled to do it. " How
long you, my dear Frank/' said Eugenia to me one day, " may
continue to love me, I know not ; but the moment you cease to
love me, it were better that we parted."

These were certainly the sentiments of an enthusiast ; but
Eugenia lived long enough to acknowledge her error, and to
bewail its fatal effects on her peace of mind. I \vas awoke from
this dream of happiness by a curious incident. I thought it
disastrous at the time, but am now convinced that it was fraught
with good, since it brought me back to my profession, recalled
me to a sense of duty, and showed me the full extent of my
disgraceful situation. My father, it appears, was still ignorant

FRANK MILDMAY. 103

of my absence from my ship, and had come down, without my
kno\viedg:e, on a visit to a friend in the neighbourhood. Hearing"
of tlic ''interesting; young" man " wlio had acquired so much
credit in the character of Apollo, as well as of Romeo, he was
persuaded to see the performance.

I was in the act of singing " Pray Goody," when my eyes
suddenly met those of my papa, who was staring like the head
of Gorgon ; and though his gaze did not turn me to stone, it
turned me sick. I was stupified, forgot my part, ran off, and
left the manager and the music to make the best of it. My
father, who could hardly believe his eyes, was convinced when
he saw my confusion. I ran into the dressing-room, where,
before I had time to divest myself of Apollo's crown and petti-
coat, 1 was accosted by my enraged parent, and it is quite
impossible for me to describe (taking my costume into considera-
tion) how very much like a fool I looked.

My father sternly demanded how long I had been thus
honourably employed. This was a question which 1 had antici-
pated, and, therefore, very readily replied, "Only two or three
days ; " tliat I had left Portsmouth for what we called '* a lark/'
and I thought it very amusing.

"Very amusing, indeed, sir," said my father; and, pray,
may 1 venture to inquire, without the fear of having a lie told me,
how long this ' lark/ as you call it, is to continue ? "

*' Oh, to-morrow," said I, " my leave expires, and then I must
return to my ship/'

"Allow me the honour of keeping your company," said my
father; "and I shall beg your captain to impose some little restraint
as to time and distance on your future excursions/'

Then, rising in his tone, he added, "I am ashamed of you,
sir, the son of a gentleman is not likely to reap any advantage
from the society of strolling vagabonds and prostitutes. I had
reason to think, by your last letters from Portsmouth, that you
were very differently employed."

To tiiis very sensible and parental reproof I answered with "a
demure and innocent countenance (for 1 soon regained my pre-
sence of mind) that I did not think there had been any harm in
doing that which most of the officers of the navy did at one
time or another (an assertion, by-the-by, much too general) ;
that we often got up plays on board of ship, and that I wanted to
practise.

" Practise then with your equals," said my father, " not in com-
pany with rogues and street-walkers."

I felt that the latter name was meant for Eugenia, and was
very indignant ; but fortunately kept all my anger within board,
and, knowing I was '* all in the wrong," allowed my father to

104 FRANK MILDMAY.

fire away without returning- a shot. He concluded his lecture
by commanding me to call upon him the next morning, at ten
o'clock, and left me to change my dress, and to regain my good
humour. I need not add that I did not return to the stage that
night, but left the manager to make his peace with the audience
in any way he thought proper.

\Vhen I informed Eugenia of the evening's adventure, she was
inconsolable : to comfort her, I offered to give up my family and
my profession, and live with her. At these words Eugenia sud-
denly recollected herself. " Frank," said she, "all that has
happened is right. iVe are both wrong. 1 felt that 1 was
too happy, and shut my eyes to the danger I dared not face.
Your father is a man of sense ; his object is to reclaim you from
inevitable ruin. As for me, if he knew of our connection, he could
only despise me. He sees his son living with strolling players ;
and it is his duty to cut the chain, no matter by what means.
You have an honourable and distinguished career marked out
for you ; I will never be an obstacle to your father's just ambition
or your prosperity. I did hope for a happier destiny; but love
blinded my eyes : I am now undeceived. If your father cannot
respect me, he shall at least admire the resolution of the
unhappy Eugenia. I have tenderly loved you, my dearest Frank,
and never have loved any other, nor ever shall ; but part we
must, Heaven only knows for how long a time. I am ready to
make every sacrifice to your fame and character — -the only proof
I can give of my unbounded love for you."

I embraced her as she uttered these words ; and we spent a
great part of the night in making preparations for my departure,
arrangements for our future cofrespondence, and, if possible,
for our future meetings. I left her early on the foUowing
morning ; and with a heavy, I had almost said, a broken heart,
appeared before my father. He was, no doubt, aware of my
attachment and the violence of my passions, and prudently
endeavoured to soothe them. He received me affectionately,
did not renew the subject of the preceding night, and we
became very good friends.

In tearing myself away from Eugenia, I found the truth of
the French adage, *' Ce n^ est que la premihre pas qui coute ; "
my heart grew lighter as I increased my distance from her. My
father, to detach my mind still more from the unfortunate
subject, spoke much of family affairs, of my brother and sisters,
and lastly named Mr. Somerville and Emily: here he touched
on tlie right chord. The remembrance of Emily revived the
expiring embers of virtue, and the recollection of the pure and

perfect mistress of Hall for a time dismissed the unhappy

Eugenia from my mind. I told my father that I would engage

FRANK MILDMAY, 105

never to disgrace him or myself any more, if he would pro-
mise not to name my late folly to Mr. Somerville or his
daughter.

"That/' said my father, *' I promise most readily; and with
the greater pleasure, since I see, in your request, the strongest
proof of the sense of your error."

This conversation passed on our road to Portsmouth, where
we had no sooner arrived than my father, who was acquainted
with the port-admiral, left me at the '' George," while he crossed
the street to call on him. The result of this interview was,
that I should be sent out immediately in some sea-going ship
with ar " tight captain."

There was one of this description just about to sail for
Basque Roads ; and, at the admiral's particular request, I was
received on board as a supernumerary, there being no vacancies
in the ship. My father, who by this time was wide awake to
all my wiles, saw me on board ; and then flattering himself that
I was in safe custody, took his leave and returned to the shore.
J very soon found that I was under an embargo, and was not
on any account to be allowed leave of absence. This was pretty
nearly what I expected ; but I had my own resources. I had now
learned to laugh at trifles, and I cared little about this decided
step which his prudence induced him to take.

CHAPTER XL

" Our boat has one sail,
And the helmsman is pale ;
A bold pilot, I trow,
Who should follow us now,"

Shouted ho.
As he spoke, bolts of death
Speck'd their path o'er the sea.
*' And fear'st thou, and fear^st thou ?
And see'st thou, and hear'st thou ?
And drive we not free
O'er the terrible sea,

I and thou ? " Shelley.

The reader may think I was over fastidious when I inform
him that I cannot describe the disgust I felt at the licentious
impurity of manners which I found in the midshipmen*s
berth ; for although my connection with Eugenia was not
flancttoned by religion or morality^ it was in other respects

io6 FRANK MILDMAY.

pure, disinterested, and, if I may use tlie expression, patri-
archal, since it was unsullied by inconstancy, gross language,
or drunkenness. Vicious 1 was, and I own it to my shame ;
but at least my vice was refined by Eugenia, who had no fault
but one.

As soon as I had settled myself in my new abode, with all
the comfort that circumstances would pern:iit, I wrote a long
letter to Eugenia, in which I gave an exact account of all that
had passed since our separation ; I begged her to come down
to Portsmouth and see me; told her to go to the "Star and
Garter, as the house nearest the water-side, and consequently
where I should be the soonest out of sis>-ht after I had landed.
Her answer informed me that she should be there on the following
day.

The only difficulty now was to get on shore. No eloquence
of mine, I was sure, would induce the first lieutenant to relax his
Cerberus-like g'uard over me. I tried the experiment, however;
begged very hard " to be allowed to go on shore to procure cer-
tain articles absolutely necessary to my comfort."

"No, no," said Air. Talbot, "I am too old a hand to be
cauglit that way. I have my orders, and I would not let my father
go on shore, if the captain ordered me to keep him on board ;
and I tell you, in perfect good humour, that out of this ship
you do not go, unless you swim on shore, and that I do not
think you will attempt. Here," continued he, "to prove to you
there is no ill-will on my part, here is the captain's note."

It was short, sweet, and complimentary as related to myself,
and was as follows : —

" Keep tliat d — d young scamp, Mildmay, on board."

" Will you allow me then," said I, folding up the note, and
returning it to him without any comment, "will you allow me to
go on shore under the charge of the sergeant of marines ? "

"That," said he, "would be just as much an infringement of
my orders as letting you go by yourself. You cannot go on shore,

sir."

These last words he uttered in a very peremptory manner, and,
quitting the deck, left me to my own reflections and my own
resources.

Intercourse by letter between Eugenia and myself was per-
fectly easy; but that was not all I wanted. I had promised to
meet her at nine o'clock in the evening. It was now sunset ;
the boats were all hoisted up ; no shore boat was near, and there
was no mode of conveyance but d la nage, which Mr. Talbot
himself had suggested only as proving its utter impracticability ;
but he did not know me half so well at the time as he did after-
wa rd s .

FRANK MILDMAY 107

The ship lay two miles from the shore, the wind was from the
south-west, and the tide moving- to the eastward; so that, with
wind and tide both in my favour, I calculated on fetchino; South
Sea Castle. After dark I took my station in the fore-channels. '
Jt was the 20th of March, and very cold. I undressed myself,
made all my clothes up into a very tight bundle, and fastened
them on my hat, which retained its proper position ; then,
lowering myself very gently into the water, like another Leander,
I struck out to gain the arms of my Hero.

Before I had got twenty yards from the ship, I was perceived
by the sentinel, who, naturally supposing I was a pressed man
endeavouring to escape, hailed me to come back. Not being
obeyed, the officer of the watch ordered him to fire at me. A
ball whizzed over my head, and struck the water between my
hands. A dozen more followed, all of them tolerably well
directed; but I struck out, and the friendly shades of night,
and increasing distance from the ship, soon protected me. A
waterman, seeing the flashes and hearing the reports of the
muskets, concluded that he might cliance to pick up a fare. He
pulled towards me, I hailed him, and he took me in, before 1 had
got half a quarter of a mile from the ship.

" I doubt whether you would ever have fetched the shore on
that tack, my lad," said the old man. " You left your ship two
hours too soon : you would have met the ebb-tide running strong
out of the harbour; and the first thing you would have made, if
you could have kept up your head above water, would have been

the Ower's.*'

While the old man was pulling and talking, I was snivering
and dressing, and made no reply; but begged him to put me
pn shore on the first part of South Sea Beach he could land at,
which he did. 1 gave him a guinea, and ran, without stopping,
into the garrison, and down Point Street, to the " Star and
Garter," where I was received by Eugenia, who, with great
presence of mind, called me her "dear, dear husband ! " in the
hearing of the people of the house. My wet clothes attracted
her notice. I told her what I had done to obtain an interview
with her. She shuddered with horror; — my teeth chattered
with cold. A good fire, a hot and not very weak glass of
brandy-and-water, together with her tears, smiles, and caresses,
soon restored me. The reader will, no doubt, here recall to
mind the less agreeable remedy applied to me when I ducked
the usher, and one recommended also by myself in similar cases,
as having experienced its good effects : how much more I
deserved it on this occasion than the former one, need not be
mentioned.

So sweet was this stolen interview, that I vowed I was ready to

io8 FRANK MILDMAY.

encounter the same danger on the succeeding* night. Our con-
versation turned on our future prospects ; and, as our time was
■short, we had much to say,

"Frank," said the poor girl, "before we meet again, I shall
probably be a mother; and this hope alone alleviates the agony
of separation. If 1 have not 3'ou, I shall, at least, be blest with
your image, fleaven grant that it may be a boy, to follow the
steps of his father, and not a girl, to be as wretched as her
mother. You, my dear Frank, are going on distant and dan-
gerous service — dangers increased tenfold by the natural ardour
of your mind : we may never meet again, or if we do, the period
will be far distant. I ever have been, and ever will be constant
to you, till death; but I neither expect, nor will allow of the
same declaration on your part. Other scenes, new faces,
youthful passions, will combine to drive me for a time from
your thoughts, and wlien you shall have attained maturer years,
and a rank in the navy equal to 3'our merits and your connections,
5'ou will marry in your own sphere of society; all these things
I have made up my mind to, a.s events that must take place.
Your person I know I cannot have — but do not, do not discard
me from your mind, I shall never be jealous as long as I know
you are happy, and still love your unfortunate Eugenia. Your
child shall be no burthen to you until it shall have attained an
age at which it may be put out in the world : then, 1 know you
will not desert it, for the sake of its mother. Dear Frank, my
heart is broken ; but you are not to blame ; and if you were, I
would die imploring blessings on your head." Ifere she wept
bitterly.

I tried every means in my power to comfort and encourage
this fascinating and extraordinary girl ; I forget neither vows
nor promises, which, >at the time, I fully intended to perform, I
promised her a speedy, and I trusted, a happy meeting.

" God's will be done," said she, " come what will. And now,
my dearest Frank, farewell — never again endanger your life and
character for me as you did last niglit. I have been blest in
your society, and even with the prospect of misery before me,
cannot regret the past."

I tenderly embraced her, jumped into a wherry, at Point, and

desired the waterman to take me on board the / ■, at

Spithead. The first lieutenant was on deck when I came up
the side.

"I presume it was you whom we fired at last night?" said

he, smiling.

" It was, sir," said I ; " absolute neoessity compelled me to go
on shore, or I should not have taken such an extraordinary modft
of conveyance."

FRANK MILDMAY, 109

*' Oh, with all my heart," said the officer ; '* had you told me
you intended to have swum on shore, I should not have pre-
vented you ; I took you for one of the pressed men, and directed
the marines to fire at you.'*

" The pressed men ai-e extremely obliged to yoti,*' thought I.

"Did you not find it devilish cold?" continued the lieu-
tenant, in a strain of good humour, which I encouraged by my
manner of answering.

" Indeed I did, sir," said I.

"And the jollies fired tolerably well, did they ?" '

" They did, sir ; would they had had a better niark.^*

" 1 understand you," said the lieutenant ; " but as you have not
served your time, the vacancy would be of no use to you. I must
report the affair to the captain, though I do not think he will take
any notic^ of it ; he is too fond of enterprise himself to check it
in others. Besides, a lady is always a justifiable object, but we
hope soon to show you some higher game."

The captain came on board shortly after, and took no notice
of my having been absent without leave ; he made some remark
as he glanced his eye at me, which I afterwards learned was in my
favour. In a few days we sailed, and arrived in a few more in
Basque Roads. The British fleet was at anchor outside the French
ships moored in a line off the Isle d'Aix. The ship I belonged to
had an active part in the work going on, and most of us saw more
than we chose to speak of; but as much ill-blood was made on
that occasion, and one or two very unpleasant courts-martial took
place, I shall endeavour to confine myself to my own personal
narrative, avoiding anything that may give offence to the parties
concerned. Some days were passed in preparing the fire-ships ;
and on the night of the nth April, 1809, everything being prepared
for the attempt to destroy the enemy's squadron, we began the
attack. A more daring one was never made; ancl if it partly
failed of success, no fault could be imputed to those who con-
ducted the enterprise : they did all that man could do.

The night was very dark, and it blew a strong breeze directly in
upon the Isle d'Aix, and the enemy's fleet. Two of our frigates
had been previously so pla-^ed as to serve as beacons to direct the
course of the fire-ships. They each displayed a clear and
brilliant light ; the fire-ships were directed to pass between these ;
after which, their course up to the boom which guarded the anchor-
age was clear, and not easily to be mistaken.

I solicited and obtained permission to go on boai'd one of the
explosion vessels that were to j>fecc<le the fire-sliins. I'iicy were
filled with layers of sliells and powder, heaped one upon an-
other : the quantity on board of each vessel was enormous.
Another officer, three seamen, and myself, were all that were

no FRANK MILDMAY.

on board of her. We had a four-oared i^'ig, a small, narrow
thing (nicknamed by the sailors a "coffin*"), to make our
escape in.

Being quite prepared, we started. It was a fearful moment ;
the wind freshened, and whistled through our rigging, and the
night was so dark that we could not see our bowsprit. We liad
only our foresail set ; but with a strong flood-tide and a fair
wind, with plenty of it, we passed between the advanced frigates
like an arrow. It seemed to me like entering the gates of hell.
As we flew rapidly along, and our ships disappeared in the
intense darkness, I thought of Dante's inscription over the
portals : — " You who enter here, leave hope behind."

Our orders were to lay the vessel on the boom which the
French had moored to the outer anchors of their ships of the
line. In a few minutes after passing the frigates, we were close
to it ; our boat was towing astern, with three men in it— one to
hold the rope ready to let go, one to steer, and one to bail the
water out, which, from our rapid motion, would otherwise have
swamped her. The officer who accompanied me steered the
vessel, and I held the match in my hand. We came upon the
boom with a horrid crash; he put the helm down, and laid her
broadside to it. The force of the tide acting on the hull, and
the wind upon the foresail, made her heel gunwale to, and it was
with difficulty I could keep my legs ; at this moment the boat
was very near being swamped alongside. They had shifted her
astern, and there the tide had almost lifted her over the boom ;
by great exertion they got her clear, and lay upon their oars : the
tide and the wind formed a bubbling short sea, which ahnost
buried her. * My companion then got into the boat, desiring me to
light the port-fire and follow.

If ever I felt the sensation of fear, it was after I had lighted
this port-fire, which was connected with the train. Until I was
fairly in the boat, and out of the reach of the explosion — which
was inevitable, and might be instantaneous — ^the seasatiou was
horrid. I was standing on a mine ; any fault in tlie port-fire,
which sometimes will happen ; any trifling quantity of gunpowder
lying in the interstices of the deck, would have exploded the
whole in a moment : had my hand trembled, wJiich J am proud to
say it did not, the same might have occurred. Only one minute
and a half of port-fire was allowed. I had therefore no time to
lose. The moment I had lit it, I laid it down verv gently, and
then jumped into the gig, witli a niinblciics:-3 snitaljlo to the
occasion. We were off in a monii.Mit : 1 pulled tin: blruke oar, and
I never plied with more zeal in all my life : we were not two
hundred yards from her \v]'\pn ;;he exploded.

A more terrific and beautiful sight cannot be conceived; but

FRANK MILDMAY. in

r

we were not quite enough at our ease to enjoy it. The shells
flew up in the air to a prodigious hei.^ht, some bursting as they
rose, and others as they descended. The shower fell about us,
but we escaped without injury. We made but little progress
against the wind and tide ; and we had the pleasure to run the
g-auntlet among all the other fire-ships, which had been ignited,
and bore down on us in flames fore and aft. Their ng*g"ing' was
hung with Congreve rockets ; and as they took fire they darted
through the air in every direction, with' an astounding noise,
looking Hke large fiery serpents.

We arrived safely on boards and reported ourselves to the
captain, who was on the hammocks, watching the progress oi
the fire-ships. One of these had been lighted too soon ; her
helm had not been lashed and she had broached to, close to
our frigate. I had had quite enough of adventure for that
night, but was fated to have a little more.

" Mr. Mildmay," said the captain, " you seem to Hke the fun ;
jump into your gig again, take four fresh hands" (thinks I, a
fresh midshipman would not be amiss), '' g^t on board of that
vessel and put her head the right way."

I did not like this job at all ; the vessel appeared to be in
flames from the jib-boom to the topsail ; and I own I pre-
ferred enjoying the honours 1 had already gained, to going
after others so very precarious ; however, I never made a
difficulty, and this was no time for exceptions to my rule. I
touched my hat, said, '*Ay, ay, sir; " sang out for four volun-
teers, and, in an instant, I had fifty. I selected four, and shoved
off on my new expedition.

As I approached the vessel, I could not at first discover any
part that was not tenanted by the flames, the heat of which, at
the distance of twenty or thirty feet, was far from pleasant,
even in that cold night. The weather quarter appeared to be
clearest of flames, but they burst out with great fury from
the cabin windows- I contrived, with great difficulty, to reach
the deck, by climbing up that part which was not actually
burning, and was followed by one of the sailors. The main-
mast was on fire, and the flakes of burning canvas from the
boom mainsail fell on us like a snow-storm; the end of the
tiller was burnt to charcoal, but on the midship part of it I passed
a rope, and assisted by the sailor, moved the helm, and got her
before the wind.

^Vhi]e I was thus employed, I could not help thinking of
my type, Don Juan. I was nearly suft'ocated before I Jiad
completed my work.' I shoved off again, and away she flew
before the wind. **I don't go with yt)u tbis time," said I;

113 FRANK MILDMAY.

^^y'ai etc,"' as the Frenchman said, when he was invited to an
English foxhunt.

I was as black as a negro when I. returned on board, and
dying with thirst. '* Very well done, Mildmay," said the
captain ; " did you iind it warm ?" I pointed to my mouth, for
it was so parched that I could not speak, and ran to the water-
cask, where I drank as much as would have floated a canoe.

The first thing I said, as soon as I could speak, was " D that

lire-ship, and the lubber that set her on fire."

The next morning the French squadron was seen in a very
disastrous state ; they had cut their cables, and ran on shore in
every direction, with the exception of the ilag ships of the
admiral and rear-admiral, which lay at their anchors, and could
not move till high water ; it was then first quarter flood, so
that they had live good hours to remain. I refer my readers
to the court-martial for a history of these events : they have
also been commented on, witli more or less severity, by con-
temporary writers. 1 shall only observe, that had the captains
of His Majesty's ships been left to their own judgment, much
more would have baen attempted ; but with what success I do
not presume to say. •

My captain, as soon as he could see his mark, weighed, ran

in, and engaged the batteries, while he also directed his guns
at the bottoms of the enemy's ships, as they lay on shore on
their beam ends. Isle d'Aix gave us a warm reception. I
was on the forecastle, the captain of which had his head taken
clean off by a cannon-ball ; the captain of the ship coming
forward at the same moment, only said, "Poor fellow! throw
him overboard; there is no time for a coroner's inquest now."
We were a considerable time engaging the batteries and the
vessels near them, witliout receiving any assistance from our
ships.

While this was going on, a very curious instance of muscular
action occurred : a lad of eighteen years of age was on the
forecastle, when a shot cut avvay_ the whole of his bowels, which
were scattered over another midshipman and myself, and
nearly blinded us. He fell — and, after lying a few seconds,
sprang suddenly on his feet, stared us horridly in the face, and
fell down dead. The spine had not been divided; but with
that exception, the lower was separated from the upper part of
the body.

Some of our vessels, seeing us so warmly engaged, began to
move up to our assistance. One of our ships of the line came
into action in such gallant trim that it \\/a.5 glorious to behold.
She was a beautiful ship, in what we call "high kelter;" she

FRANK MILDMAY. iij

seemed a living body, conscious of her own superior po^'er
over her opponents, whose shot she despised, as they fell tfcck
and fast about her, whilst she deliberately took up an admirable
position tor battle ; and having furled her sails, and squared
her yards, as if she liad been at Spithead, her men came down
from aloft, went to their guns, and opened such a. fire on the
enemy's sl}ips and batteries as would have delighted the great
Nelson himself, could he have been present. The results of
this action are well known, and do not need repeating here;
it was one of the winding-up scenes of the war. The French,
slow to believe their naval inferiority, now submitted in silence.
Our navy had done its work ; and from that time, the brunt of
the war fell on the a.vn\y.

The advocates of fatalism or predestination might adduce a
strong illustration of their doctrine as evinced in the death of
the captain of one of the French ships destroyed. This officer
had been taken out of his sliip by one of the boats of our
frigate ; but, recollecting that he had left on board nautical
instruments of great value, he requested our captain to go
with him in the gig, and bring them away before the ship was
burned. The}^ did go, and the boat being ver}^ small, they sat
very close side by side, on a piece of board not much more
than two feet long, which, for want of proper seats, was laid
across the stern of the boat. One of the French ships was
burning at the time; her guns went off as fast as the fire
reached them ; and a chance shot took the board from under
the two captains : the English captain was not hurt ; but the
splinters entered the body of the French captain and killad
him. ^ate in the evening, the other French line-of-bat(l« ships
that were ashore were set fire io, and a splendid illumination they
made : we were close to them, and the splinters and fragments of
wreck fell on board of us.

Among our killed was a Dutch boatswain's mate : his wife
was on board, and the stick which he \^'as allowed to carry in
virtue of his ofiice, he very frequently applied to the slioulders
of his helpmate, in requital for certain instances of infidelity;
nor, with all my respect for the fair sex, can I deny that the
punishment was generally deserved. When the cannon-ball
had deprived her of her lawful protector and the guardian of
her honour, she sat by the side of his mangled remains, making
many unavailing efforts to weep ; a tear from one eye coursed
down her cheek, and was lost in her mouth ; one from the
other eye started at the same time, but, for want of nourishment,
halted on her cheekbone, where, collecting the smoke and
gunpowder which surrounded us, it formed a little black pen-
insLtla and isthmus on her face, and gave to her heroic grief a

114 FRANK MILDMAY.

truly mourning tear. This proof of conjugal affection she
would not part with until the following day, when having seen the
last sad rites paid to the body of her faithful Achilles, she washed
her face, and resumed her smiles, nor was she ungrateful to the
ship's company for their sympathy.

We were ordered up to Spithead with despatches, and long
before we arrived she had made the sergeant of marines the
happiest of men, under a promise of marriage at Kingston church
before we sailed on our next cruise, which promise was most
honourably performed.

A midshipman's vacancy having occurred on board the frigate,
the captain offered it to me. I gladly accepted of it ; and while
he was in the humour, I asked him for a week's leave of absence ;
this he also granted, adding, at the same time, '' No more French
leave, if you please." I need not say that not an hour of this
indulgence was intended either for my father or even the dear
Emily. No, Eugenia, the beloved, in her interesting condition,

claimed my undivided care. I flew to G , found the troop;

but she, alas ! had left it a fortnight before, and had gone no one
knew whither.

Distracted with this fatal news, I sank into a chair almost
senseless, when one of the actresses brought me a letter : I
knew the hand ; it was that of Eugenia. Rushing into an empty
parlour, I broke the seal, and read as follows : —

"Believe me, my dearest Mildmay, nothing but the most
urgent necessity could induce me to cause you the affliction which
I know you will feel on reading these lines. Circumstances have
occurred since we parted, that not only render it necessary that I
should quit you, but also that we should not meet again for some
time; and that you should be kept in ignorance of my place of
abode. Our separation, though long, will not, I trust, be eternal ;
hut years may elapse before we meet again. The sacrifice is
great to me ; but your honour and prosperity demand it. I have
the same ardent love towards you that I ever had; and for your
sake will love and cherish your child. I am supported in ^ki's my
trial, by a hope of our being again united. God in heaven bless
you, and prosper all your undertakings. Follow up your
profession. I shall hear and have constant intelligence of all
your motions, and I shall pray Lu lloaven to spare your life amidst
all the dangers that your courage will urge you to encounter.
Farewell ! and forget not her who never has you one moment from
her thou^ts. s

*' Eugenia.

"P.S. You may at times be short of cash; I know you are

FRANK MILDMAY. 115

very thoughtless in that respect. A letter to the subjoined
address will always be attended to, and enable you to command
whatever may be necessary for your comfort. Pride might
induce you to reject this offer ; but remember it is Eugenia
that offers : and if you love her as she thinks vou do, you will
accept it from her."

Here was mystery and paradox in copious confusion. '' Obliged
by circumstances to leave me — to conceal the place of her
retirement" — yet commanding not only pecuniary resources
for herself, but offering me any sum I might require ! I retired
to my bed ; but sleep forsook me, nor did I want it. I had
too much to think of, and no clue to solve my doubts. I
prayed to Heaven for her welfare, vowed etertial constancy,
and at length fell asleep. The next morning I took leave of
my quondam associates, and returned to Portsmouth, neithei*
wishing to see my father, my family, or even the sweet Emily.
It however occurred to me that the same agent who could
advance money could forward a letter ; and a letter I wrote,
expressing all I felt. No answer was returned ; but as the
letter never came back, I was convinced it was received, and
occasionally sent others, the contents of which my readers will,
no doubt, feel obliged to me for suppressing, love-letters being
of all things i'l the world the most stupid, except to the parties
concerned.

As I was not to see my Eugenia, I was delighted to hear
that we were again to be sent on active service. The Scheldt
expedition was preparing, and our frigate was to be in the
advance ; but our gallant and favourite captain was not to go
with us ; an acting captain was appointed, and every Exertion
was used to have the ship ready. The town in the mean time
was as crowded with soldiers as Spithead and the harbour was
with transports. Late in July we sailed, having two gunboats
in tow, wJiich we were ordered to man. I applied for and
obtained the command of one of them, quite certain that I
should see more service, and consequently have more amusement,
than if I remained on board the frigate. We convoyed forty or
fifty transports, containing the cavalry, and brought them all
safe to an anch'or off Cadsand.

The weather was line, and the water smooth ; not a moment
was lost in disembarking the troops and horses; and I do not
recollect ever having seen, either before or since, a more pleasing
sigiit. The men were first on shore with their saddles and
bridles : the horses were then lowered into the water in running
slings, which were slipped clear off them in a moment ; and as
soon as they found themselves free, they swam away for the

ii6 FRANK MILDMAY.

shore, which they saluted with a loud neigh as soon as they
landed. In the space of a quarter of a mile we had three or
four hundred horses in the water, all swimming for the shore
at the same time ; while their anxious riders stood on the
beach, waiting their arrival. I never saw so novel or picturesque
a sight.

I found the gun-boat service very hard. We were stationed
off Batz, and obliged to be constantly on the alert ; but when
Flushing surrendered we had more leisure, and we employed
it in procuring some articles for our table, to which we had
been too long strangers. Our money had been expended in
the purchase of champagne and claret, in which articles we
were no economists ; consequently few tiorins could be spared
for the purchase of poultry and butcher's meat; but then these
articles were to be procured, by the same means which had
given us the island of Walcheren, namely, powder and shot.
The country people were very churlish, and not at all inclined
to barter ; and as we had nothing to give in exchange, we
avoided useless discussion. Turkeys, by us short-sighted
mortals, were often mistaken for pheasants ; cocks and hens
for partridges ; tame ducks and geese for wild ; in short, such
was our hurry and confusion — leaping ditches, climbing dikes,
and fording swamps — that Buffon himself would never iiave
known the difference between a goose and a peacock. Our
game-bags were as capacious as our consciences, and our aim
as good as our appetites.

The peasants shut all their poultry up in their barns, and
very liberally bestowed all their curses upon us. Thus all our
supplies were cut off, and foraging became at least a source of
difficulty, if not of danger. 1 went on shore with our party,
put a bullet into my fowling-piece, and, as I thought, shot a
deer ; but on more minute inspection, it proved to be a four
months' calf. This was an accident that might have happened
to any man. The carcass was too heavy to carry home, so we
cut it in halves, not fore and aft down the backbone, as your
stupid butchers do, but made a short cut across the loins, a far
more compendious and portable method than the other. We
marched off with the hind legs, loins, and kidney, having first
of all buried the head and shoulders in the field, determined to
call and take it away the following night.

We were partly seen, and severely scrutinized in our action by
a neighbourn^sg gun-boat, whose crew were no doubt as hungry as
ourselves; they got Iiold of one of our men, who, like a fool, let
the cat out of the bag, when a pint of grog got into it. The
fellow hinted where the other hall lay, and these iinprhiciphd
rascals went after it, fully resolved to appropriate it to them-

FRANK MILDMAY. 117

selves ; but they were outwitted, as they deserved to be for their
roguer^' The farmer to whom the calf belonged had g;ot a hint
of what was done, and finding" that we had buried one half of the
calf, procured a party of soldiers ready to take possession of us
when we should come to fetch it away ; accordino;ly, the party
who went from the other gun-boat after dark, having found out
the spot, were veiy busy disinterring" their prey, v.^hen they were
surprised, taken prisouers, and marched away to the British
camp, leaving' the body behind.

We, quite unconscious of what was done, came soon after,
found our veal, and marched off with it. The prisoners were
in the meantime sent on board the flag sliip, with the charge
of robbery strongly preferred against them ; indeed, flagra7ife
delicto was proved. In vain they protested that they were wot
the slayers, but only went in searcli of what others had killed :
the admiral, who was a kind-hearted man, said that that was a
very good story, but desired them " not to tell hes to old rogues/'
and ordered them all under arrest, at the same time giving
directions fur a most rigid scrutiny into the larder of the oilier
gun-boat, witii a view, if possible, to discover the remains of the
calf. This we had foreseen would happen, so we put it into one
of the sailor's bags, and sank it with a lead-line in three fathoms
of water, where it lay till the inspection was over, when we
dressed it, and made an excellent dinner, drinking success to His
Majesty's arms by land and sea.

Whether I had been intemperate in food or libation I know
not, but I was attacked with the Walcheren fever, and was
sent home in a Hne-of-battle ship ; and, perhaps, as Pangloss
says, it was all for the best ; for I knew I could not have left
otf my inveterate liabits, and it would have been very incon-
venient to me, and distressing to my friends, to have ended my
brilliant career, and stopped these memoi?'s, at tlie beginning
of the second and most interesting volume, by hanging the
Author up, like a scarecrow, under the superintendence of the
rascally provost-marshal, merely for catering- on the land of a
W^alcheren farmer. Moreover, the Dutch were unworthy of
liberty, as tlieir actions proved — to begrudge a few fowls, or a
fillet of veal, to the very men who came to rescue them from
bondag-e ; — and then their water, too, who ever drank such
stuff? P'or my part, -I never tasted it when I could get anything
better. As to their nasty swam^^s and fogs, quite good enough
for such croaking fellows as they are, what could induce an
Knglisliman to live among them, except the pleasure of killing
Frenchmen or shooting game? Deprive us of these pursuits,
which the surrender of Flushing effectually did, and Walcheren,
with its ophthalmia and its agues, was no longer a place for a

iiS FRANK MILDMAY,

gentleman. Besides, I plainly saw that if there ever had been
any intention of advancing to Antwerp, the time was now gone
by ; and as the French were laug^hing at us, and I never
liked to be made a butt of, particularly by such chaps as
these, I left the scene of our sorrows and disgraces without
regret.

The farewell of Voltaire came into my mind. '* AdieUy
cajiaux, cana7'ds^ et canaillc^^^ which might be rendered into
English thus;—" Good bye, dikes, ducks, and Dutchmen." So
I returned to ray father's house, to be nursed by my sister, and
to astonish the neighbours with the history of our wonderful
achievements.

CHAPTER XII.

First came i^reat Neptune, with liis three-fork mace

TJiat rules'tlie seas, and makes them rise or fall;

His dewy locks did droj) with brine apace

"Under his diademe iniperiall :

And by his side his queene with coronall,

Fair Amphitrite * * «

« « « « * •

These inarched farre afore the other crew. Spenser.

I REMAINED no longer at home than sufficed to restore my
strength, after the serious attack of fever and ague which I had
brought with me from Walcheren. Although my father received
me kindly, he had not forgotten (at least I thought so) my former
transgressions ; a mutual distrust destroyed that intimacy which
ouciht ever to exist between father and son. The thread was
broken — it is vain to inquire how, and the consequence was, that
the day of my departure to join a frigate on the North American
station was welcomed with joy by me, and seen unregretted by
my father.

The ship I was about to join was commanded by a young
nobleman ; and as patricians were not so plentiful in the service
at that time as they have since become, I was considered fortu-
nate in my appointment. I was ordered, with about thirty more
supernumerary midshipmen, to take my passage in a ship of the
line going to Bermuda. The gun-room was given to us as our
place of residence, the midshipmen belonging to the ship occupy-
ing the two snug berths in the cockpit.

Among so many young men of different habits and circum-
stances, all joining the ship at different periods, no combination

FRANK MILDMAY. 119

could be made for forming a mess. The ship sailed soon after
I got on board, and our party, during the voyage, was usually
supplied from the purser's steward-room. I have thought it very
wonderful, that a mess of eight or twelve seamen or marines will
always make the allowance last from one week to another, and
have something to spare ; but with the same number of midship-
men the case is very different, and the larger the mess the more
do their difficulties increase ; they are never satisfied, never have
enough, and if the purser will allow them, are always in debt for
flour, beef, pork, and spirits. This is owing to their natural habits
of carelessness ; and our mess, for this reason, was particularly
uncomfortable. The governm.ent was a democracy ; but the
caterer had at times been invested with dictatorial powers, which
he either abused or was thought to abuse, and he was accordingly
turned out, or resigned in disgust, at the end of two or three

days.

Most of my messmates were young men, senior to me in the
service, having passed their examinations, and were going to
America for promotion : but when mustered on the quarter-deck,
whether they appeared less manly, or were in fact less expert
in their duty, I know not ; but certain it is, that the first lieuten-
ant appointed me mate of a watch, and placed several of these
aspirants under my orders : and so strong did we muster, that we
stood in each other's way when on deck keeping our watch,
seldom less than seventeen or eighteen in number.

In the gun-room we agreed very ill together, and one principal
cause of this was our short allowance of food — daily skirmishes
took place, and not unfrequently pitched battles ; but I never
tookanyother part in them than asa spectator, andthe observations
I made convinced me that I •should have no great difficulty in
mastering the whole of them.

The office of caterer was one of neither honour nor emolument,
and it was voluntarily taken up, and peevishly laid down on the
first trifling provocation. With the ship's allowance, no being
less than an angel could have given satisfaction. The division
of beef and pork into as many parcels as there were claimants,
always produced remonstrance, reproof, and blows. I was never
quarrelsome, and took the part allotted to me quietly enough,
until, they finding my disposition to submit, I found my portion
daily decrease ; and on the resignation of the thirteenth caterer,
I volunteered my services, which were gladly accepted.

Aware of the danger and difficulty of my situation, I was
prepared accordingly. On the first day that I shared the pro-
visions, I took very good care of number one, and, as I had
foreseen, was attacked by two or three for my lion-like division
of the prey. Upon this, I made them a short speech, observ-

120 FRANK MILDMAY.

ing, that if they supposed I meant to take the trouble of cater-
ing for nothing", they were much mistaken ; that the small
difference I made between their portions and mine, if equally
divided among them, would not fill a hollow tooth, and that,
after my own share, all others should be distributed with the
most rigid impartiality and scrupulous regard to justice.

This very reasonable speech did not satisfy them. I was
challenged to decide the point (i la Cribb ; two candidates for
the honour stepped out at once. I desired them to toss up ;
and having soon defeated the winner, I recommended him to
return to his seat. The next man came forward, hoping to find
an easy victory, after the fatigue of a recent battle ; but he
was mistaken, and retired with severe chastisement. The next
day I took my seat, cleared for action — coat, waistcoat, and
neckcloth off. I observed that I should proceed as I had done
before, and was ready to hold a court of Oyer and Terminer ;
but no suitors appeared, and I held the office of caterer from
that day till I quitted the ship, by the strongest of all possible
claims — first, by election ; and, secondly, by right of conquest.

We had not been many days at sea before we discovered
that our first lieutenant was a most abominable tyrant, a brutal
feUow, a drunkard, and a glutton, with a long red nose, and a
large belly; he frequently sent half a dozen grown-up midship-
men to the mast-head at a time. This man I determined to
turn out of the ship, and mentioned my intention to my mess-
mates, promising them success if they would only follow my
advice. They quite laughed at the idea; but I was firm, and
told them that it should come to pass if they would but behave
so ill as just to incur a slight punishment or reprimand from
'* Nosey" every day; this they agreed to, and not a day
passed but they were either mast-headed, or put watch and
watch. '

Ihey reported all to me, and asked my advice. "Complain
to the captain," said I. They did, and were told that the first
lieutenant had done his duty. The same causes produced the
same effects on each succeeding day; and when the midship-
men complained, they had no redress. By my direction, they
observed to the captain, *' It is of no use complaining, sir; you
always take Mr. Clewline's part." The captain, indeed, from
a general sense of propriety, gave his support to tiie ward-room
ofiicers, knowing that, nine times in ten, midshipmen were in the

wrong.

Things worked as I wished; the midshipmen persisted in
behaving ill — • remonstrated, and declared that the first lieu-
tenant did not tell the truth. For a time, many of them lost
the favour of the captain ; but I encouraged them to bear that,

FRANK MILDMAV. 121

as well as the increased rancour of "Old Nosey," One day,
two midshiptnon, by previous agreement, began to figbt on the
lee gangway. In those days, that was crime enough almost to
have hanged them ; they were sent to the mast-head for three
hours, and when they came down applied to me for advice.
'* Go," said 1, *' and complain. If the first lieutenant says you
were fighting, tell the captain you were only showing how the
first lieutenant pummelled the men last niglit when tlicy were
hoisting the topsails, and tlie way he cut the marine's head,
when he knocked him dovvn the hatchway." Ail this was fairly
done — the midshipmen received a reprimand, but the captain
began to think there might be some cause for these continupd
complaints, which daily increased both in weight and number

At last we were enabled to give the coii^ de grace, A wretched
boy in the ship, whose dirty habits often brought him to the
gun, was so hardened that he Jaughed at all the stripes of the
boatsuain's CD.t inflicted on l)im b}^ the first lieutenant. " I will
make him feel," said the enraged ofiicer; so ordering a bowl
of brine to be brought to him, h.e sprinkled it on tlie lacerated
flesli of the Imy between every lash. This inhuman act, so un-
becoming the character of an ofhcer and a gentleman, we all
resented, and retiring to the gun-room in a body, gave three
deep and heavy groans in chorus. The effect was dismal ; it
was heard in the ward-room, and the first lieutenant sent down
to desire we should be quiet ; on which we immediately gave
three more, which sent him in a rage io the quarter-deck,
where we were all summoned, and the reason of tlie noise de-
manded. I had, till then, kept myself in the background,
content with being the ^rimiini mobile., without being seen. I
was always strict to my duty, and never had been complained
of; my coming forward, therefore, on this occasion, produced
a fine stage effect, and carried great weight,

I told the lieutenant we were groaning for the poor b:^y who
had been pickled. This increased his rage, and he ordered
me up to the masthead. I refused io ^o until I had seen the
captain, who at that moment made his appearance on deck. I
immediately referred to him, related the whole story, not omit-
ting to mention the repeated acts of tyranny which the lieu-
tenant had perpetrated on. us all. I saw in a moment that we
had gained the day. The captain had given the most positive
orders that no one should be punished without his express per-
mission.^ 'j'his order the lieutenant had disobeyed ; and that,
added -tu tiis unpopular character, decided his late. The cap-
tain walked into his cabin, and i\\^ next day signified to the
first lieutenant that he must quit the ship on her arrival in port, .

122 FRANK MILDMAY.

or be tried by a court-martial : this latter he knew he dared not
stand,

I should have informed my reader that our orders were to see
the East-India convoy as far as the tenth degree of north latitude,
and then proceed to Berra.uda, This was of itself a pleasant
cruise, and gave us the chance of falling in either with an enemy
or a recapture Ships not intending to cross the line usually
grant a saturnalia to the crew when they come to the tropic of
Capricorn ; it is thought to renovate their spirits, and to break
the monotony of the cruise, or voyage, where time flows on in such
a smooth, undeviating routine, that one day is not distinguishable
from another. Our captain, a young man, and a perfect gentle-
man, never refused any indulgence to the men compatible with
discipline and the safety of the ship; and as the regular trade-
wind blew, there was no danger of sudden squalls. The ceremony
of crossing the line, I am aware, has been often described — so
has Italy and the Rhine ; but there are varieties of ways of doing
and relating these things; ours had its singularity, and ended, I
am sorry to say, in a deep tragedy, which I shall remember " as
long as memory holds her seat.'*

One beautiful morning, as soon as the people had breakfasted,
they began to prepare, by stripping to their waists, and wearing
nothing but a pair of duck trousers. The man at the mast-head
called out that he saw something on the weather bow, which" he
thought was a boat ; soon after, an unknown voice from the jib-
boom hailed the ship ; the officer of the watch answered ; and the
voice commanded him to heave to, as Neptune was coming on
board. The ship was accordingly hove to with every formality,
though going at the rate of seven miles an hour : the main-yard
squared, the head and after-yards braced up.

As soon as the ship was hove to, a young man (one of the
sailors) dressed in a smart suit of black, knee-breeches, and
buckles, with hiS hair powdered, and with ail the extra finery
and mincing gait of an exquisite, came aft on the quarter-deck,
and, with a most polished bow, took the liberty of introducing
himself as gentle?na7i' s gentleman to Mr. Neptune, who had been
desired to precede his master and acquaint the commander of the
vessel with his intended visit.

A sail had been extended across the forecastle by way of cur-
tain, and from behind this Neptune and his train, in full costume,
shortly afterwards came forth.

The car of the god consisted of a gun-carriage : it was drawn
by six black men, part of the ship's crew: they were tall mus-
cular fellows, their heads were covered with seaweed, and they
wore a very small pair of cotton drawers : in other respects

FRANK MILDMAY. 123

they were perfectly naked ; their skins were spotted all over
with red and white paint alternately ; they had conch shells in
their hands, with which they made a most horrible noise.
Neptune Avas masked, as were many of his attendants, and
none of the officers knew exactly by which of the men the god
was represented ; but he was a slirewd hand, and did his part
very well. He wore a naval crown, made by the ship's
armourer; in his right hand he held a trident, on the proni;"3
of which there was a dolphin, which he had, he said, struck
that morning; he wore a large wig, made of oakum, and a
beard of the same materials, which flowed down to his waist ;
he was full powdered, and his naked body was bedaubed with
paint.

The god was attended by a splendid court : his secretary of
state, wl>«se head was stuck full of the quills of the sea-bird of
these latitudes ; his surgeon, with his lancet, pili-box, and his
smelling-bottle ; his barber, with a razor, whose blade was two
feet long, cut off an iron hoop; and the barber's mate, who car-
ried a small tub as a shaving-box ; the materials within I could
not analyze, but my nose convinced me that no part of them came
from Smith's, in Bond-street.

Ampliitrite followed, on a similar carriage, drawn by six
white men, whose costume was like the others. This goddess
was personified by an athletic, vigly man, marked with the small-
pox, dressed as a female, with a woman's night-cap on his head,
ornamented with sprigs of sea-weed; she had a harpoon in her
hand, on which was fixed an albicore ; and in her lap lay one of
the boys of the ship, dressed as a baby, with long clothes and a
cap : he held in his hand a marlinspike, which was suspended
round his neck with a rope yarn — this was to assist him in cutting
his teeth, as the children on shore use a coral. His nurse
attended him with a bucket full of burgoo, or hasty pudding, with
which she- occasionally fed him out of the cook's iron ladle. Two
or three stout men were liabited as sea nymphs, to attend on the
goddess : they carried a looking-glass, some currycombs, a birch-
broom, and a pot of red paint, by way of rouge.

As soon as the procession appeared on the forecastle, the
captain, attended by his steward, bearing a tray with a bottle
of wine and some glasses> came out of his cabin, and the cars
of the marine deities were drawn up on the quarter-deck.
Neptune lowered his trident, and presented the dolphin to the
captain, as Ampliitrite did her albicore, in token of submission
and homage to the representative of the King of Great
Britain.

" J. have come," said the god, " to welcome you into my do-
minions, and to present my wife and child." The captain

134 FRANK MILDMaV.

bowed. " Allow me to ask after my brother and liege sovereign,
the good old King George."

" He is not so well," said the captain, ** as I and all his sub-
jects could wish."

"More's the nity," replied Neptune; " and how is the Prince
of Wales?"

*' Ti)e Prince is well," said the captain, "and now governs as
regetU in the name of Uis royal father."

" And how does he get on with his wife ? " said the inquisitive
god. ^

" Uad enough," said the captain; *' they agree together like
a wliaJc and a tlirasher."

"Ah ! 1 thought so," said tlie god of the sea. "His royal
highness should take a leaf out of my book: never allow it to
be doubtful who is commanding officer."

" And pray what might your majesty's specific be, to cure a
bad Nsite i " said the captam,

" Three feet of the cross-jack brace every morning before
breakfast, for a quarter of an hour, and half an hour on a
Sunday."

" But why more on a Sunday than any other day .^ " said the
captain.

"Why?" said Neptune. " Why, because she'd been keep-
ing Saturday night, to be sure ; besides, she has less to do
of a Sunday, and more time to think of her sins, and do

penance."

" But you would not have a prince strike a lady, surely ? "

" Wouldn't I? No, to be sure, if she behave herself as sich,
on no account; but if she gives tongue, and won't keep sober,
Pd sarve her as I do Amphy — don't J, Amphy ? " chucking the
goddess under the chin. " We have no bad wives in the bottom
of the sea : and so if you don't know how to keep 'em in order,
send them to us."

"But your majesty's remedy is violent; we should have a
rebellion in England, if the king was to beat his wife."

" Make the lords in waiting do it, then," said the surly god ;
"and if they are too lazy, which I dare say they are, send for a
boatswain's mate from the Royal Hilly — \\^'d sarve her out, I
warrant you, and for half a gallon of rum would teach the
yeomen of the guard to dance the binnacle hornpipe into the
bargain."

*'His royal highness shall certainly hear your advice, Mr.
Neptune ; but whether he will follow it or not, is not for me
to say. Would you please to drink his royal highness's good
health ?

FRANK MILDMAY. 125

'* With all my heart, sir ; I was always loyal to my king", and
ready to drink his health, and to fi^ht for him."

The captain presented the god with a bumper of Madeira, and
another to the goddess.

" Here*s a good health and a long life to our gracious king
and all the royal family. The roads are unkimmon dusty, and
we hav'n*t wet our lips since we left St. Thomas on the line, this
morning. But we have no time to lose, captain,'* said the sea
god; "I see many new faces here, as requires washing and
shaving ; and if we add bleeding and physic, they will be all the
better for it." <

The captain nodded assent ; and Neptune, striking the deck
with the end of his trident, commanded attention, and thus
addressed his court : *' Hark ye, my Tritons, you are called
here to shave, duck, and physic all as needs ; but I command
you to be gentle. I'll have no ill-usage ; if we gets a bad
name, we gets no more fees ; and the first of you as disob'^ys
my orders, I'll tie him to a ten-inch mortar, and sink him ten
thousand fathoms deep in the ocean, where he shall feed on
salt water and sea-weed for a hundred years : begone to your
work." Twelve constables, with thick sticks, immediately
repaired to the hatchway, and sent down all who had not been
initiated, guarding them strictly, until they were called up one
by one.

The cow-pen had been previously prepared for the bathing ; it
was lined with double canvas, and boarded, so that it held water,
and contained about four butts, which was constantly renewed by
the pump. Many of the officers purchased exemption from
shaving and physic by a bottle of rum ; but none could escape
the sprinkling of salt water, which fell about in great profusion ;
even the captain received his share, but with great good-nature,
and seemed to enjoy the sport. It was easy to perceive, on this
occasion, who were favourites with the ship's company, by the
degree of severity with which they were treated. The tyro was
seated on the side of the cow-pen ; he was asked the place of his
nativity, and the moment he opened his mouth, the shaving-brush
of the barber, which was a very large paint-brush, was crammed
in, with all the filthy lather, with which they covered his face and
chin ; this was roughly scraped off with the great razor. The
doctor felt his pulse, and prescribed a pill, which was forced into
his cheek ; and the smelling-bottle, the cork of which was armed
with short points of pins, was so forcibly applied to his nose as to
bring blood ; after this, he was thrown backwards into the bath,
and allowed to scramble out the best way he could.

The master-at-arms, and ship's corporals, and purser's steward,
were severely treated. The midshipmen looked out for the first

X

126 FRANK MILDMAY,

lieutenant ; but he kept so close under the wing of the captain,
that for a long time we were unable to succeed. At length, some
great uproar in tlae waist induced him to run down, when we all
surrounded him, and plied him so effectually with buckets of
water, that he was glad to run down the after-hatchway, and seek
shelter in the gun-room ; as he ran down, we threw the buckets
after him, and he fell, like the Roman virgin, covered with the
shields of the soldiers.

The purser had fortified himself in his cabin, and with his
sword and pistols, vowed vengeance against all intruders ; but
the middies were not to be frightened with swords or pistols :
so we had him out, and gave him a sound ducking, because he
had refused to let us have more spirits than our allowance. He
was paraded to the main-deck in great form, his sword held
over his head; his pistols, in a bucket of water, carried before
him ; and having been duly shaved, physicked, and soused
into the cow-pen, he was allowed to return to his cabin, like a
drowned rat.

The first lieutenant of marines was a great bore ; he was
always annoying us with his German flute. Having no ear of
his own, he had no mercy on ours, so we handed him to the
bath ; and in addition to all the other luxuries of the day,
made him drink half a pint of salt water* which we poured into
his mouth through his own flute, as a funnel. I now recollect
that it was the cries of the poor marine which brought down the
first lieutenant, who ordered us to desist, and we served him as
hath been related.

Thus far all was hilarity and mirth ; but the scene was very
suddenly changed. One of the foretopmen, drawing water in the
chains, fell overboard ; the alarm was instantly given, and the ship
hove to. I ran upon the poop, and, seeing that the man could
not swim, jumped overboard to save him. The height from which
I descended made me go very deep in the water, and when I arose
I could perceive one of the man's hands. I swam towards him ;
but, O God I what was my liorror, when I found myself in the
midst of his blood. I comprehended in a moment that a shark
had taken him, and expected that every instant my own fate would
be like his I wonder I had not sunk with fear: I was nearly
paralyzed. The ship, which had been going six or seven miles an
hour, was at some distance, and I gave myself up for gone. I
had scarcely the power of reflection, and was overwhelmed by the
sudden, awful, and, as I thought, certain approach of death in its
most horrible shape. In a moment I recollected myself: and I
believe the actions of five years crowded into my mind in as many
minutes. I prayed most fervently, and vowed amendment, if it
should please God to spare me. My prayer was heard, and I

FRANK MILDMAY. 127

believe it was a special Providence that rescued me from the jaws
of the fish. I was nearly a mile from the ship before I was picked
up ; and when the boat came alongside with me, three large
sharks were under the stern. These had devoured the poor
sailor, and, fortunately for me, had followed the ship for more prey,
and thus left me to myself.

As I went up the side, I was received by the captain and
officers in the most flattering manner ; the captain thanked me
in the presence of the ship's company for my praiseworthy
exertions, and I was gazed on by all as an object of interest and
admiration ; but if others thought so of me, I thought not so of
myself. I retired below to my berth with a loathing and con-
tempt, a self-abasement, which I cannot describe. I felt myself
unworthy of the mercy I had received. The disgraceful and
vicious course of life I had led burst upon me with horrible con-
viction. *' Ccelo tonantem. credidimus govern regnare,'' says
Horace ; and it was only by the exxitement of such peculiarly
horrid situations, that the sense of a superintending power could
be awakened within me, a hardened and incorrigible sinner.

I changed my clothes, and was glad when night came, that I
might be left to myself; but oh, how infinitely more horrid did my
situation appear ! I shuddered when I thought of what I had
gone through, and I made the most solemn promises of a new
life. How transient were these feelings! How long did these
good resolutions last ? Just as long as no temptation came in the
way; as long as there was no incitement to sin, no means of
gratifying appetite. My good intentions were traced in the
sand. I was very soon as thoughtless and as profane as ever,
although frequently checked by the remembrance of my
providential escape ; and for years afterwards the thoughts of
the shark taking me by the leg was accompanied by the
acknowledgment that the devil would have me in like manner,
if I did not amend.

If after this awakening circumstance I could have had the good
fortune to have met with sober-minded and religious people, I
have no doubt but I might have had at this time much less to
answer for ; but that not being the case, the force of habit and
example renewed its dominion over me, and I became nearly as

bad as ever.

Our amusements in the gun-room were rough. One of them
was to lie on the mess table, under the tiller, and to hold by
the tiller ropes above, while we kicked at all who attempted to
dislodge us, either by force or stratagem. Whoever had
possession had nine points of the law, and could easily oppose
the whole. I pne day held this envied position, and kept all at
bay, when, unluckily, one of the passed midshipmen, who had got

128 FRANK MILDMAY.

very dT-unk with the gunner, came in and made a furious attack
on me. 1 gave him a kick on the face that sent him with great
violence on his back, among the plates and dishes, which had been
removed from the dinner-table and placed between the guns.
Enraged, as much at the laughter against him as at the blow he
had received, he snatched up a carving fork, and, before any one
was aware of his intention, stabbed 'me with it four times. I
jumped up to punish him, but the moment I got on my legs, was
so stiff, that I fell back into the arms of my messmates.

The surgeon examined the wounds, which were serious ; two of
them nearly touched an artery. I was put to bed sick, and was
three weeks confined to my berth. The midshipman who had
committed this outrage, was very penitent when sober, and im-
plored my pardon and forgiveness. Naturally good-natured, I
freely forgave, because J was disarmed by submission. I never
trampled on a prostrate i^v. The s^iroeon reported me ill of a
fever, which was true ; for haJ the captain known the real fact,
the midshipman, whose commission was signed, and in the ship,
ready to be delivered to him on his arrival at Bermuda, would
certainly have lost his promotion. My kindness to him, I believe,
wounde^i him more than my resentment; he became exceedingly
melancholy and thoughtful, gave up drinking, and was ever
after greatly attached to me. I reckon this among the few
go9d actions of my life, and own I have great pleasure in re-
flecting upon it.

We arrived at Bermuda soon after, having left the convoy in
the latitude of ten degrees north. The supernumeraries were all
discharged into their respective ships ; and before we separated,
we had the pleasure to see the first lieutenant take his passage in
a ship bound to England. Most sincerely did we congratulate
ourselves on the success of our intrigue.

CHAPTER XIII.

Where the remote Bermudas ride,

In th' ocean's bosom. * Andrew Marvell.

There is a peculiar kind of beauty among these islands, which
•we might really believe to be the abode of fairies. They consist
of a cluster of rocks, formed by the zoophyte, or coral worm.
The number of the islands is said to be equal to the days of the
year. They are covered with a short green sward, dark cedar
trees, and low white houses, which have a pretty and pleasing

FRANK MILDMAY. 129

m

effect ; the harbours are numerous, but shallow ; and though
there are many channels into them, there is but one for large ships
into the principal anchorage.

Numerous caverns, whose roofs sparkle with the spars and
stalactites formed by the dripping water, are found in every part
of the islands. They contain springs of delicious coolness, to
quench the thirst, or to bathe in. The sailors have a notion that
these islands float, and that the crust which composes them is so
thin as to be broken with little exertion. One man being confined
in the guard-house for having got drunk and misbehaved, stamped
on the ground, and roared to the guard, "Let me out, or, d — n
your eyes, FU knock a hole in your bottom, scuttle your island,
and send you all to h — together/* Rocks and shoals abound in
almost* every direction, but chiefly on the north and west sides.
They are, however, well known to the native pilots, and serve as a
safeguard from nightly surprise or invasion.

Varieties of fish are found here, beautiful to the eye and delicious
to the taste : of these, the best is the red grouper. When on a
calm, clear day you glide among these lovely islands, in your boat,
you seem to be sailing over a submarine flower-garden, in which
clumps of trees, shrubs, flowers, and gravel walks, are planted in
wild but regular confusion.

My chief employment was afloat, and according to my usual
habit, I found no amusement unless it was attended with danger;
and this propensity found ample gratification in the whale fishery,
the reason for which was just approachiBg, The ferocity of tiie
fish in these southern latitudes appears to be increased, both from
the heat of the climate and the care of their young; for which
reason it would seem that the risk in taking them is greater than
in the polar seas.

From what 1 am able to learn of the natural history of the whale,
she brings forth her young, seldom more than one at a time, in the
northern regions, after which, with the calf at her side, the mother
seeks a more genial climate, to bring it to maturity. They
generally reach Bermuda about the middle of March, where they
remain but a few weeks, after which they visit the West India
Islands, then bear away to the southward, and go round Cape
Horn, returning to the polar seas by the Aleutian Islands and
Behring's SUuiiJ, which they reach in the following summer ;
when the young whale, having acquired size and strength in the
southern latitudes, is enabled to contend with his enemies in the
north, and here also the dam meets the male again. From my
own experience and the inqiuries I have been enabled to make, I
am tolerably certain that this is a correct statement of the migration
of these animals, the females annually making the tour of the two
great American continents, attended by their young.

130 FRANK MILDMAY.

The maternal solicitude of the whale makes her a dang-erous
adversary, and many serious accidents occur in the season for
catching whales, On one occasion I had nearly paid with my
life for the gratification of my curiosity- I went in a whale-boat
rowed by coloured men, natives of the islands, who were very
daring and expert in this pursuit. We saw a whale, with her
calf, playing round the coral rocks ; the attention which the dam
showed to its young, the care she took to warn it of danger, was
truly affecting. She led it away from the boats, swam round it,
and sometimes she would embrace it with her fins, and roll over
with it in the waves. We contrived to get the " vantage ground "
by going to seaward of her, and by that means drove her into
shoal water among the rocks. At last we came so near the young
one, that the harpooner poised his weapon, knowing that thp calf
once struck, the mother was our own, for she would never desert
it. Aware of the danger and impending fate of its inexperienced
offspring, she swam rapidly round it, in decreasing circ;e •, evincing
the utmost uneasiness and anxiety ; but the parental admonitions
were unheeded, and it met its fate.

The boat approached the side of the younger fish, and the
harpooner buried his tremendous weapon deep in the ribs. The
moment it felt the wound, the poor animal darted from us, taking
out a hundred fathom of line ; but a young fish is soon conquered
when once well struck : such was the case in this instance ; it was
no sooner checked with the line than it turned on its back, and,
displaying its white belly on the surface of the water, floated a
lifeless corpse \v?The unhappy parent, with an instinct always
more powerful than reason, never quitted the body.

We hauled in upon the line, and came close up to our quarry
just as another boat had fixed a harpoon in the mother. The tail
of the furious animal descended with irresistible force upon the
very centre of our boat, cutting it , in two, and killing two of the
men ; the survivors took to swimming for their lives in all direc-
tions. The whale went in pursuit of the third boat, but was
checked by the line from the one that struck her : she towed them
at the rate of ten or eleven miles an hour : and had she had deep
water, would have taken the boat down, or obliged them to cut
away from her.

The two boats were so much employed that they could not come
to our assistance for some time, and we were left to our own re-
sources much longer than I thought agreeable. I was going to
swim to the calf whale ; but one of the men advised me not to do
so, saying that the sharks would be as thick about him as the
lawyers round Westminster Hall, and that I should certainly be
snapped up if I went near: for my comfort he added, "These
devils seldom touch a man if they can get anything else." This

FRANK MILDMAY. 131

might be very true ; but I must confess I was very glad to see one
of the boats come to our assistance, while the mother whale,
encumbered with the heavy.harpoon and line, and exhausted with
the fountain of black blood which she threw up, drew near to her
calf, and died by its side ; evidently, in her last moments, more
occupied with the preservation of her young than of herself.

As soon as she turned on her back, I had reason to thank the
*' Mudian " for his good advice ; there were at least thirty or forty
sharks assembled round the carcasses, and as we towed tliem in,
they followed. When we had grounded them in the shallow water
close to the beach, the blubber was cut off; after which, the flesh
was given to the black people, who assembled in crowds, and cut
off with their knives large portions of the meat. The sharks as
liberally helped themselves with their teeth; but it was very remark-
able, that though the black men, often came between them and
the whale, they never attacked a man. This was a singular scene ;
the blacks with their white eyes and teeth, hallooing, laughing,
screaming, and mixing with numerous sharks — the most ferocious
monsters of the deep — yet preserving a sort of truce during the
presence of a third object : it reminded me, comparing great things
with small, of the partition of Poland,

I found that there was neither honour nor profit for me in this
diversion, so I no more went a whale fishing, but took my passage
to Halifax in a schooner — one of those vessels built during the
war, in imitation of the Virginia pilot boats ; but like most of our
imitations, about as much resembling the original as a cow is like
a hare, and bearing exactly the same proportion in point of velocity.
And, as if it had been determined that these vessels should in
every respect disgrace the British flag, the command of them was
conferred on officers whose conduct would not induce captains to
allow them to serve under them, and who were therefore very un-
wisely sent into small vessels, where they became their own
masters, aod were many of them constantly drunk : such was the
state of my commander from the tiine I sailed until we reached
Halifax. The example of the lieutenant was followcd-by his mate
and three midshipmen ; the crew, which consisted of twenty-live
men, were kept sober by being confined to their allowance, and I
had a hopeful prospect.

Fortunately, drinking was not among my vices. I could get
" fresh," as we call it, when in good company and excited by wit
and mirth ; but I never went to the length of being drunk ; and,
as I advanced in years, pride and cunning made me still more
guarded. I perceived the immense advantage which sobriety gave
me over a drunkard, and I failed not to proht by it.

Keeping constantly on deck, almost night and day, I attended
to the course of the vessel and the sail she carried, never taking

132 FRANK MILDMAY.

the trouble to consult the lieutenant, who was generally senseless
in his cabin. We made Sambro* Lighthouse (which is at the
entrance of Halifax harbour) in the evening, and one of the mid-
shipmen, who was more than half drunk, declared himself well
acquainted with the place, and his offer to pilot the vessel in was
accepted. As I had never been there before, I could be of no
use ; but being extremely doubtful of the skill of our pilot, I watched
his proceedings with some anxiety.

In half an hour we found ourselves on shore on Cornwallis
Island, as I afterwards learned, and the sea made a fair breach
over us. This sobered the lieutenant and his ofhcers ; and as the
tide fell, we found ourselves high and dry. The vessel fell over on
her side, and I walked on shore, determined to trust myself no
more with such a set of beasts. Boats came down from the dock-
yard at daylight, and took me and some others who had followed
my example, together with our luggage, to the flag-ship. After
two days' hard labour, the vessel was got off, and brought into the
harbour. The admiral was informed of the whole transaction, and
one of the captains advised him to try the lieutenant by a court-
martial, or, at least, to turn him out of the vessel, and send him
home. Unfortunately, he would not follow this advice, but sent
him to sea again, with despatches. It was known that all hands
were drunk on quitting the port ; and the vessel ran upon a reef of
rocks called the Sisters, where she sank, and every soul perished.
Her mast-heads were seen just above water the next morning.

The frigate I was to join came into harbour soon after I reached
Halifax. This I was sorry for, as I found myself in very good
quarters. I had letters of introduction to the best families. The
place is proverbial for hospitality ; and the society of the young
ladies, who are both virtuous and lovely, tended in some degree to
reform and polish the rough and libertine manners which I had
contracted in my career. I had many sweethearts ; but they were
more like Emily than Eugenia. I was a great flirt anwng them,
and would willingly have spent more time in their company; but
my fate or fortune was to be accomplished, and I went on board
the frigate, where I presented my introductory letters to the noble-
man who commanded her. I expected to have seen an effeminate
young man, much too refined to learn his business ; but I was
mistaken. Lord Edward was a sailor every inch of him, he knew
a ship from stem to stern, understood the characters of seamen,
and gained their confidence. He was, besides, a good mechanic
— a carpenter, rope-maker, sail-maker, and cooper. He could
hand, reef, and steer, knot and spUce ; but he was no orator — he
read little, and spoke less. He was a man of no show. He was
good-tempered, honest, and unsophisticated, with a large propor-
tion of common sense. He was good-humoured and free with his

FRANK MILDMAY. 133

officers ; though if offended he was violent, but soon calm again ;
nor could you ever perceive any assumption of consequence from
his title of nobility. He was pleased with my expertness in
practical seamanship ; and before we left the harbour, I became
a great favourite. This I took care to improve, as I liked him
both for himself and his good qualities, independently of the
advantages of being on good terms with the captain.

We were not allowed to remain long in this paradise of sailors,
being ordered suddenly to Quebec. I ran round to say adieu to all
my dear Arcadian friends. A tearful eye, a lock of hair, a hearty
shake of a fair hand, were all the spoils with which I was loaded
when I quitted the shore, and I cast many a longing, lingering
look behind, as the ship glided out of the harbour; white hand-
kerchiefs were waved from the beach, and many a silent prayer for
our safe return was put up from snowy bosoms and from aching
hearts. I dispensed my usual quantum of vows of eternal love and
fidelity, before I left them, and my departure was marked in the
calendar of Halifax as a black day, by at least seven or eight pairs
of blue eyes.

We had not been long at sea before we spoke an Irish Guinea-
man from Belfast, loaded with emigrants for the United States :
1 think about seventeen families. These were contraband. Our
captainhad some twenty thousand acres on the island of St. John*s,
or Prince Edward's, as it is now called, a grant to some of his an-
cestors, which had been bequeathed to him, and from which he
had never received one shilling of rent, for the very best reason in
the world — because there were no tenants to cultivate the soil. It
occurred to our noble captain that this was the very sort of cargo
he wanted, and that these Irish people would make good clearers
of his land, and improve his estate. He made the proposal to
them, and as they saw no chance of getting to the United States,
and, provided they could procure nourishment for their families,
it was a matter of indifference to them where they colonised, the
proposal was accepted, and the captain obtained permission of the
admiral to accompany them to the island to see them housed and
settled. Indeed, nothing could have been more advantageous for
all parties ; they increased the scanty population of our own
colony, instead of adding to the number of our enemies. We
sailed again from Halifax a few hours after we had obtained
the sanction of the admiral, and, passing through the beautiful
passage between Nova Scotia and the island of Cape Breton,
known by the name of the Gut of Canso, we soon reached Prince
Edward's Island.

We anchored in a small harbour near the estate, on which we
found a man residing with his wife and family; this fellow called
himself the steward, and from all I could see of him during our

134 FRANK MILDMAY.

three weeks* stay, he appeared to me to be rascal enough for the
stewardship of any nobleman's estate in England, The captain
landed, and took me as his aide-de-camp. A bed was prepared
for his lordship in the steward's house, but he preferred sleeping
on clean hay in the barn. This noble lord was a man whose
thoughts seldom gave much labour to his tongue ; he always pre-
ferred hearing others to talking himself; and whoever was his
companion, he must always be at the expense of the conversation.
Nor was it by the usual mode of simple narrative that his mind
was completely impressed with the image intended to be presented
to him ; he required three different versions, or paraphrases, of the
same story or observation, and to these he had three different ex-
pletives or ejaculations. These were "hum!'* "eh!" and
"ah!" The first denoted attention; the second, part compre-
hension ; and the third, assent and entire approval ; to mark which
more distinctly, the last syllable was drawn out to an immoderate
length, and accompanied by a sort of half laugh.

I shall give one instance ofour colloquial pastime. His lordship,
after we had each taken up our quarters for the night, on the soft
dry hay, thus began :

" I say," — a pause.

"My lord?"

"What would they say in England, at our taking up such
quarters ? "

" I think, my lord, that as far as regards myself, they would say
nothing ; but as far as regards your lordship, they would say it was
very indifferent accommodation for a nobleman."

"Hum! "

This I knew was the signal for a new version. " I was

observing, my lord, that a person of your rank, taking up his

quarters in a barn, would excite suspicion among your friends in
Eneland,"

" Eh ? " says his lordship.

That did not do — either your lordship's head or mine is very
thick, thinks I. I'll try again, though dying to go to sleep. " I
say, my lord, if the people in England knew what a good sailor
you are, they would be surprised at nothing you did ; but those
who know nothing, would think it odd that you should be contented
with such quarters."

" Ah ! " said his lordship, triumphantly.

What further observations he was .pleased to make that night I
know not, for I fell fast asleep, and did not awake till the cocks
and hens began to fly down from their roosts, and make a con-
founded clamour for their breakfasts, when his lordship jumped up,
gave himself a good shake, and then gave me another of a different
sort : it answered the purpose, however, of restoring me to that

Frank mildmay. 135

reason, of which the cackling of the poultry had only produced the
incipient signs. ■

"Come, rouse out, you d lazy chap,'* said my captain.

" Do you mean to sleep all day ? We have got plenty to do."

" Ay, ay, my lord," said I. So up I jumped, and my toilet was
completed in the same time, and by the same operation, as that of
a Newfoundland dog, namely a good shake.

A large party of the ship's company came on shore with the
carpenter, bringing with them every implement useful in cutting
down trees and building log-houses. Such was to be our occu-
pation, in order to house these poor emigrants. Our men began
to clear a patch of land, by cutting down a number of pine-trees,
the almost exclusive natives of the wood ; and having selected a
spot for the foundation, we placed four stems of trees in a parallel-
ogram, having a deep notch in each end, mutually to fit and em-
brace each other. When the walls, by this repeated operation,
were high enough, we laid on the rafters, and covered the roof with
boughs of the fir and the bark of the birch-tree, filling the inter-
stices with moss and mud. By practice, I became, a very expert
engineer, and with the assistance of thirty or forty men, I could
build a very good house in a day.

We next cleared, by burning and rooting up, as much land as
would serve to sustain the little colony for the ensuing season ; and
having planted a crop of corn and potatoes, and giving the settlers
many articles useful in their new abode, we left them, agreeably
to our orders, and to my great joy returned to dear Halifax, where
I again was blessed with the sight of my innocent harem. I re-
member well that I received a severe rebuke from the captain for
inattention to signals. One was addressed to us from the flag-
ship ; 1 was signal midshipman, but instead of directing my
glass towards the old' Centurion, it was levelled at a certain young
Calypso, whose fair form I discovered wandering along the
'■^ gazon Jieuri : " how long would I not have dwelt in this happy
Arcadia, had not another Mentor pushed me off the rocks, and
sent me once more to buffet the briny waves.

Contrary to the opinion of any rational being, the President of
the United States was planning a war against England, and every
ship in Halifax harbour was preparing to fight the Yankees. The
squadron sailed in September. I bade adieu to the nymphs of
Nova Scotia with more indifference than became me, or than the
reception I had met with from them seemed to deserve ; but I was
the same selfish and ungrateful being as ever. I cared for no one
but my own dear self, and as long as I was gratified, it mattered
little to me how many broken hearts I left behind.

136 FRANK MILDMAY.

CHAPTER. XIV.

At once the winds arise,
The thunders roll, the forky lightning lUes ;
In vain the master issues out commands,
In vain the trembling sailors ply their hands :
The tempest unforeseen prevents their care,
And from the first they labour in despair.

Dryden's Fables.

Halifax is a charming, hospitable place : its name is associated
with so many pleasing recollections, that it never fails to extort
another glass from the bottle which, having been gagged, was
going to pass the night in the cellaret. But only say " Halifax ! "
and it is like ** Open sesame ! " — out flies the cork, and down goes
a bumper to the " health of all good lasses ! "

I related, in the last chapter, an adventure with an Irish
Guineaman, whose car^^o my right honourable captain converted
to, the profitable uses of himself and his country. Another of
these vessels had been fallen in with by one of our cruisers, and the
commander of His Majesty's sloop Humming Bird made a
selection of some thirty or forty stout Hibernians to fill up his own
complement, and hand over the surplus to the admiral.

Short-sighted mortals we all are, and captains of men-of-war
are not exempted from this human imperfection ! How much,
also, drops between the cup and the lip ! There chanced to be on
board of the same trader two very pretty Irish girls of the better
sort of bourgeoisie; they were going to join their friends at
Philadelphia : the name of the one was Tudy, and of the other
Maria. No sooner vv-ere the poor Irisrrtmen informed of their
change of destination, than they set up a howl loud enough to
make the scaly monsters of the deep seek their dark caverns.
They rent the hearts of the poor tender-hearted girls ; and
when the thorough bass of the males was joined by the sopranos
and trebles of the women and children, it would have made
Orpheus himself turn round and gaze.

** Oh, Miss Judy 1 Oh, Miss Maria 1 would ye be so cruel as to
see us poor craturs dragged away to a man-of-war, and not for to
go and spake a word for us ? A word to the captain wid your own
pretty mouths, no doubt he would let us off."

The young ladies, though doubting the powers of their own
fascinations, resolved to make the experiment; so, begging the
lieutenant of the sloop to give them a passage on board, to
speak with his captain, they added a small matter of finery to

FRANK MILDMAY. 137

their dress, and skipped into the boat like a couple of mountain
kids, caring neither for the exposure of legs nor the spray of the
salt water, which, though it took the curls out of their hair, added
a bloom to the cheeks which, perhaps, contributed in no small
degree to the success of their project.

There is sometliing in the sight of a petticoat at sea that never
fails to put a man into a good humour, provided he be rightly con-
structed. When they got on board the Huni77ting Bird, they
were received by the captain, and handed down into the cabin,
where some refreshments were immediately prepared for them,
and every kind attention shown which their sex and beauty could
demand. The captain was one of the best natured fellows that
ever lived, with a pair of little sparkling black eyes that laughed
in your face.

" And pray, young ladies," said he, ** what may have procured
me the honour of this visit ? "

*' It was to beg a favour of your Jionour," said Judy.
"And his honour will grant it, too,'' said Maria ; "fori like the
look of him.'*

Flattered by this little shot of Maria's, the captain said that
nothing ever gave him more pleasure than to oblige the ladies ;
and if the favour they intended to ask was not utterly incompatible
with his duty, that he would grant it.

" Well then,*' said Maria, " will your honour give me back Pat
Flannagan, that you have pressed just now? '*
The captain shook his head.

*' He's no sailor, your honour ; but a poor bog-trotter : and he
will never do you any good."
The captain again shook his head.

** Ask me anything else," said he, " and I will give it you."
"Well then," said Maria, "give us Phelim O'Shaugnessy ? "
The captain was equally inflexible.

''Come, come, your honour," said Judy, "we must not stand
upon trifles nowadays. I'll give you a kiss, if you'll give me Pat
Flannagan."

" And I another," said Maria, "for Phelim."
The captain had one seated on each side of him ; his head
turned like a dog-vane in a gale of wind ; he did not know which
to begin with ; the most ineffable good humour danced in his
eyes, and the ladies saw at once that the day was their own.
Such is the power of beauty, that this lord of the ocean was fain
to strike io it. Judy laid a kiss on his right cheek; Maria
matched it on his left; the captain was the happiest of mortals.

"Well, then," said he, "you have your wish; take your two
men, for I am in a hurry to make sail."

"Is it sail ye are after making ; and do ye mane to take all those

138 FRANK MILDMAY.

pretty craturs away wid ye ? No, faith ! another kiss, and another

man."

I am not going to relate how many kisses these lovely girls be-
stowed on this envied captain. If such are captains' perquisites,
who would not be a captain ? Suffice it to say, they released
the whole of their countrymen, and returned on board in
triumph. The story reached Halifax, where the good-humoured
admiral only said he was sorry he was not a captain, and all the
happy society made themselves very merry with it. The captain,
who is as brave as he is good, was promoted soon after, entirely
from his own intrinsic merit, but not for this action, in which
candour and friendship must acknowledge he was defeated. The
Lord-Chancellor used to say, he always laughed at the settle-
ment of pin-money, as ladies were either kicked out of it or kissed
out of it ; but his lordship, in the whole course of his legal
practice, never saw a captain of a man-of-war kissed out of forty
men by two pretty Irish girls. After this, who would not shout
' ' Erin go bragh / ' '

Dashing with a fine breeze out of the harbour, I saw with
joy the field of fortune open to me, holding out a fair promise
of glory and riches. "Adieu ! ** said I, in my heart, " adieu, ye
lovely Nova Scotians ! learn in future to distinguish between
false glitter and real worth. Me ye prized for a handsome
person and a smooth tongue, while you foolishly rejected men
of ten times my worth, because they wanted the outward
blandishments."

We were ordered to Bermuda, and on our first quitting the
port, steered away to the southward with a fair wind at north-
west. This breeze soon freshened into a gale at south-east, and
blew with some violence ; but after awhile it died away to a
perfect calm, leaving a heavy swell, in which the ship rolled
incessantly. About eleven o'clock the sky began to blacken ;
and, before noon, had assumed an appearance of the most
dismal and foreboding darkness ; the sea-gulls screamed as they
flew distractedly by, warning us to prepare for the approaching
hurricane, whose symptoms could hardly be mistaken. The
warning was not lost upon us, most of our sails were taken in,
and we had, as we thought, so well secured everything, as to bid
defiance to the storm. About noon it came with a sudden and
terrific violence that astonished the oldest and most experienced
seamen among us : the noise it made was horrible, and its
ravages inconceivable. ^

The wind was from the north-west — the water, as ir blew on
board, and all over us, was warm as milk ; the murkiness and
close smell of the air was in a short time dispelled : but such
was the violence of the wind, that, on the moment of its

FRANK MILDMAY. 139

striking" the ship, she lay over on her side with her lee guns
under water. Every article that could move was danced to
leeward ; the shot flew out of the lockers, and the greatest
confusion and dismay prevailed below, while above deck things
went still worse ; the mizen-mast and the fore and main topmast
went over the side ; but such was the noise of the wind, that we
could not hear them fall ; nor did I, who was standing close to
the mizen-mast at the moment, know it was gone, until I turned
round and saw the stump of the mast snapped in two like a
carrot. The noise of the wind '* waxed louder and louder;" it
was like one continued peal of thunder; and the enormous
waves, as they rose, were instantly beheaded by its fury, and
sent in foaming spray along the bosom of the deep ; the storm
stay-sails flew to atoms ; the captain, officers, and men stood
aghast, looking at each other, and waiting the awful event in
utter amazement.

The ship lay over on her larboard side so heavily as to force
in the gun ports, and the nettings of the waist hammocks, and
seemed as if settling bodily down ; while large masses of water,
by the force of the wind, were whirled up into the air ; and
others were pouring down the hatchways, which we had not had
time to batten down, and before we had succeeded, the lower
deck was half full, and the chests and hammocks were all floating
about in dreadful disorder. The sheep, cow, pigs, and poultry
were all washed overboard out of the waist and drowned ; no voice
could be heard, and no orders were given ; all discipline was sus-
pended ; every man was equal to his neighbour ; captain and
sweeper clung alike to the same rope for security.

The carpenter was for cutting away the masts, but the captain
would not consent. A seaman crawled aft on the quarter-deck,
and, screaming into the ear of the captain, informed him that
one of the anchors had broken adrift, and was hanging by the
cable under the bows. To have let it remain long in this
situation, was certain destruction to the ship, and I was ordered
forward to see it cut away ; but so much had the gale and the
sea increased in a few minutes, that a passage to the forecastle
was not to be found ; on the weather side, the wind and sea
were so violent that no man could face them. I was blown
against the boats, and with difficulty got back to the quarter-
deck ; and going over to leeward, I swam along the gangway
under the lee of the boats, and delivered the orders, which with
infinite difficulty at last were executed.

On the forecastle 1 found the oldest and stoutest seamen
holding on by the weather rigging, and crying like children : I
was surprised at this, and felt proud to be above such weak-
ness. While my superiors in age and experience were sinking

140 FRANK MILDMAY.

under apprehension, I was aware of our danger, and saw very
clearly, that if the frigate did not right very shortly, it would be
all over with us ; for in spite of our precautions, the water was
increasing below. I swam back to the quarter-deck, where the
captain, who was as brave a man as ever trod a plank, stood at
the wheel, with three of the best seamen ; but such were the
rude shocks which the rudder received from the sea, that it was
with the utmost difficulty they could prevent themselves being
thrown over the ship's side. The lee quarter-deck guns were
under water; but it was proposed to throw them overboard;
and as it was a matter of life and death, we succeeded. Still
she lay like a log, and would not right, and settled down in a
very alarming manner. The violence of the hurricane was
unabated, and the general feeling seemed to be, *' To >rayers !
— to prayers ! — all lost 1 "

The fore and mainmasts still stood, supporting the weight of
rigging and wreck which hung to them, and which like a power-
ful lever, pressed the labouring ship down on her side. To
disengage this enormous top-hamper was to us an object more
to be desired than expected. Yet the case was desperate, and
a desperate effort was to be made, or in half an hour we should
have been past praying for, except by a Roman Catholic priest.
The danger of sending a man aloft was so imminent, that the
captain would not order one on this service ; but calling the
ship's company on the quarter-deck, pointed to the impending
wreck, and by signs and gestures, and hard bawling, convinced
them that unless the ship was immediately eased of her burden,
she must go down.

At this moment every wave seemed to make a deeper and
more fatal impression on her. She descended rapidly in the
hollows of the sea, and rose with dull and exhausted motion,
as if she felt* she could do no more. She was worn out in the
contest, and about to surrender, like a noble and battered for-
tress, to the overwhelming power of her enemies. The men
seemed stupefied with the danger, and I have no doubt, could
they have got at the spirits, would have made themselves drunk,
and in that state, have met their inevitable fate. At every lurch,
the mainmast appeared as if making the most violent efforts to
disengage itself from the ship ; the weather shrouds became
like straight bars of iron, while the lee shrouds hung over in a
semicircle to leeward, or with the weather-roll, banged against
the mast, and threatened instant destruction, each moment, from
the convulsive jerks. We expected to see the mast fall, and
with it the side of the ship to be beaten in. No man could
be found daring enough, at the captain's request, to venture
aloft, and cut away the wreck of the main topmast, and the

FRANK MILDMAY. 141

main-yard, which was hanging up and down, with the weight
of the top-mast and top-sail yard resting upon it. There was a
dead and stupid pause, while the hurricane, if anything, increased
in violence. ?;.

I confess that I felt gratified at this acknowledgment of a
danger which none dared face. I waited a few seconds to see
if a volunteer would step forward, resolved, if he did, that I
would be his enemy for life, inasmuch as he would have robbed
me of the gratification of my darling passion — ■ unbounded
pride. Dangers, in common with others, I had often faced,
and been the first to encounter : but to dare that which a gallant
and hardy crew of a frigate had declined, was a climax of
superiority which I had never dreamed of attaining. Seizing a
sharp tomahawk, I made signs to the captain that I would
attempt to cut away the wreck, follow me who dared. I mounted
the weather-rigging; five or six hardy seamen followed me;
sailors will rarely refuse to follow where they find an officer
lead the way.

The jerks of the rigging had nearly thrown us overboard, or
jammed us with the wreck. We were forced to embrace the
shrouds with arms and legs ; and anxiously, and with breathless
apprehension for ou' lives, did the captain, officers, and crew
gaze on us as we mounted, and cheered us at every stroke of
the tomahawk. The danger seemed passed when we reached
the catharpings, where we had foot room. We divided our
work; some took the lanyards of the topmast rigging; I, the
slings of the main yard. The lusty blows we dealt were
answered by corresponditfg crashes ; and at length, down fell
the tremendous wreck over the larboard gunwale. The ship felt
instant relief; she righted, and we descended amidst the cheers,
the applauses, the congratulations, and, I may add, the tears
of gratitude of most of our shipmates. The work now became
lighter, the gale abated every moment, the wreck was gradually
cleared away, and we forgot our cares.

This was the proudest moment of my life, and no earthly
possession would J have taken in exchange for what I felt when
I once more placed my foot on the quarter-deck. The approv-
ing smile of the captain — the hearty shake by'Jthe hand — the
praises of the officers — the eager gaze of the ship's company,
who looked on me with astonishmcntand obeyed me with alacrity,
were something in my mind, when abstractedly considered, but
nothing compared to the inward feeling of gratified ambition — a
passion so intimately interwoven in my existence, that -to have
eradicated it the whole fabric of my fame must have been de-
molished. I felt pride justified.

Hurricanes are rarely of long continuance ; this was suc-

J

142 FRANK MILDMAY.

ceeded by a gale, which, thoug'h strong, was iino weather com-
pared to what we had seen. We fell to work, rigged our jur}^-
mast, and in a few days presented ourselves to the welcome gaze
of the town of Halifax, which, having felt the full force of the
hurricane, expressed very considerable alarm for our safety. My
arms and legs did not recover for some time from the effects of
the bruises I had received in going aloft, and for some days
I remained on board. When I recovered, I went on shore,
and was kindly and affectionately received by my numerous
friends.

I had not been long at Halifax before a sudden change took
place in the behaviour of my captain towards me. The cause
I could never exactly discover, though I had given myself
some room for conjecture. I must confess v.-ith sorrow, that
notwithstanding his kindness to me on every occasion, and
notwithstanding my high respect for him, as an officer and a
gentleman, I had raised a laugh against him. But he was too
good-humoured a man to be offended at such a harmless act of
youthful levity; and five minutes were usually the limits of
anger with this amiable man on such occasions as I am about
to relate.

The fact was this ; my truly noble captain sported a remark-
ably wide pair of blue trousers. Whether he thought it sailor-
like, or whether his tailor was afraid of putting his lordship to
short allowance of cloth, for fear of phlogistic consequences, I
know not; but broad as was the beam of his lordship, still
broader and more ample in proportion were the folds of this
essential part of his drapery, quite -fenough to have embraced
twice the volume of human flesh contained within them, large
as it undoubtedly was.

That " a stitch in time saves nine," is a wise saw, unhappily,
like many others of the same thrifty kind, but little heeded in
this our day. So it was with Lord Edward. A rent had, by
some mischance, been made in the central seam, and, on the
morning of the hurricane, was still unmended. When the gale
came, it sought a quarrel with anything it could lay hold of,
and the harmless trousers of Lord Edward became subject
to its mighty and resistless devastation ; the blustering Boreas
entered by the seam aforesaid, and filled the trousers like the
cheeks of a trumpeter. Yorkshire wool could not stand the
inflated pressure, the dress split to ribbons, and soundly
flagellated the very part it was intended to conceal. ..,What
could he do, ''in sweet confusion lost, and dubious ^/^//(^rV/z^j""
— the only defence left against the rude blast was his shirt.
(for the weather was so warm that second garments were
dispensed with), and this too being old, fled in tatters before

Ji-RANK MILDMAY. 143

the gale. In short, clap a sailor's jacket on the Gladiator
in Hyde Park, and you have a fair view of Lord Edward in
the hurricane.

The case was inconvenient enough ; but as the ship was in
distress, and we all expected to go to the bottom in half an
hour, it was not worth while to quit the deck to replace the
dress, which would have availed him nothing in the depths of
the sea, particularly as we were not likely to meet with any
ladies tliere : nor if there had been any, was it a matter of any
moment whether we went to Davy's locker with or without
breeches ; but when the danger was passed, the joke began to
appear, and I was amusing a large company with the tale,
when his lordship came in. The titter of the ladies increased
to a giggle, and then by regular gradation, to a loud and
uncontrollable laugh. He very soon discovered that he was
the subject, and I the. cause, and for a minute or two seemed
sulky ; but it soon went off, and I cannot think this was the
reason of his change of sentiments ; for, although it is high
treason in a midshipman to look black at the captain's dog,
much less to laugh at the captain under any circumstances,
still I knew that my captain was too good a fellow to be offended
with such a trifle. I rather suspect I was wished out of the ship
by the first lieutenant and gun-room officers ; and they were
right, for where an inferior officer is popular with the men,
discipline must suffer from it. I received a good-natured hint
from Lord Edward that another captain in a larger frigate
would be happy to receive me. I understood him ; we parted
good friends, and I shall ever think of him with respect and
gratitude.

My new captain was a very different sort of man, refined
in his manner, a scholar, and a gentleman. Kind and friendly
with his officers, his library was at their disposal ; the fore cabin,
where his books were usually kept, was open to all ; it was the
schoolroom of the young midshipmen and the study of the
old ones. He was an excellent draughtsman, and I profited
not a little by his instructions ; he loved the society of the
ladies, so did I ; but he being a married man was more select
in his company and more correct in his conduct than I could
pretend to be.

We were ordered io Quebec, sailed through the beautiful Gut
of Canso, and up the spacious and majestic St. Lawrence,
passing in sight of the Island of Anticosta. Nothing material
occurred during the passage, save that a Scotch surgeon's
assistant, having adopted certain aristocratic notions, required
a democratical lecture on heads, which was duly administered to
him. He pretended that he was, by birth and education (at

144 FRANK MILDMAY.

Edinburgh), entitled to be at the head of our mess. This I
resisted, and soon taught the ambitious son of Esculapius that
the science of defence was as important as the art of heaUng ;
and that if he was skilful in this latter, I would give him an
opportunity of employing it on his own person : whereupon I
implanted on his sinciput, occiput, os frontis, os nasi, and all
other vulnerable parts of his body, certain concussions calculated
to stupify and benumb the sensorium, and to produce under each
eye a quantity of black, extravasated blood; while, at the same
time, a copious stream of carmine fluid issued from either noatril.
It was never my habit to bully or take any unfair advantage ; so,
having perceived a cessation of arms on his part, I put tlie usual
interrogatives as to whether the party conifindAxi^ was satisfied,
and being answered in the affirmative, I laid by my metacarpal
bones until they might be further wanted, either for reproof or
correction.

We anchored off Cape Diamond, which divides the St.
Lawrence from the little river St. Charles. The continuation
of this cape, as it recedes, forms the Heiglits of Abraham, o\\
which the immortal AVol-fe defeated Montcalm, in the year
1759, when both the generals ended their glorious career on
the held of battle. The city stands, on the extremity of th';
cape, and has a very romantic appearance. The houses and
churches are generally covered with tin, to prevent conflagration,
to which the place was remarkably subject when the houses
were covered with thatch or shingle. When the rays of the
sun lay on the buildings, they had the appearance of being cased
in silver.

Ona of our objects in going to Quebec was io procure men,
of which the squadron was very deficient. Our seamen and
marines were secretly and suddenly formed into pressgangs.
Tlie command of one of them was conferred on me. The
officers and marines went on shore in disguise, having agreed
on private signals and places of rendezvous ; while the seamen
on whom we could depend acted as decoy-ducks, pretending
to belong to merchant-vessels, of which their officer was the
master, and inducing them to engage, for ten gallons of rum
and three hundred dollars, to take the run home. Many were
procured in this manner, and were not undeceived until they
found themselves alongside of the frigate, when their oaths
and execrations may be better conceived than described or
repeated.

It may be proper to explain here that the vessels employed
in the timber trade arrive in the month of June, as soon as the
ice is clear of the river, and, if they do not sail by or before the
end of October, are usually set fast in the ice, and forced to

FRANK MILDMAY. 145

winter in the St. Lawrence, losing their voyage, and lying seven
or eight months idle. Aware of this, the sailors, as soon as they
arrive, desert, and are secreted and fed by the crimps, who make
their market of them in the fall of the year by selling them to the
captains ; procuring for the men an exorbitant sum for the
voyage home, and for themselves a handsome douceur for their
trouble, both from the captain and the sailor.

We were desired not to tnVo men out of the merchant vessels,
but to search for them in. i .j houses of the crimps. This was
to us a source of great amusement and singular adventure ; for
the ingenuity in concealing them was only equalled by the art
and cunning exercised in the discovery of their abodes. Cellars
and lofts were stale and out of use : we found more game in
the interior of haystacks, church steeples, closets under fire-
places where the fire was burning. Some we found headed up
in sugar-hogsheads, and some concealed within bundles of hoop-
staves. Sometimes we found seamen, dressed as gentlemen,
drinking wine and talking with the greatest familiarity with
people much above them in rank, who had used these means
Xo conceal them. Our information led us to detect these
excusable impositions,

I went into the country, about fifteen miles from Quebec,
where I had heard of a crimp* s preserve, and after a tedious
search, discovered some good seamen on the rafters of an out-
house intended only to smoke and cure bacon ; and as the fires
were lighted, and the smoke ascending, it was difficult to
conceive a human being could exist there : nor should we have
discovered them if one of them had not coughed ; on which
he received the execrations of the others, and the whole party
was instantly handed out. We immediately cut the strings of
their trousers behind, to prevent their running away (this ought
never to be omitted), and, placing them and ourselves in the
farmer's waggon, made him put his team io and drive us all to
Quebec, the new-raised men joining with our own in all the
jokes which flew thick about on the occasion of their discovery.
It was astonishing to me how easily these fine fellows reconciled
themselves to the thoughts ol a man-of-war ; perhaps the
approaching row with the Yankees tended very much to preserve
good humour. A became an enthusiast in man-hunting, although
sober reflection has since convinced me of its cruelty, injustice,
and inexpediency, tending to drive seamen from the country
more than any measure the government could adopt ; but I am
not going to write a treatise on impressment. I cared not one
farthing about the Hberty of the subject, as long as I got my
ship well manned for the impending conflict ; and as I gratified

my love of adventure, I was as thoughtless of the consequen<ies

146 FRANK MILDMAY.

as when I rode over a farmer's turnips in England, or broke
through his hedges in pursuit of a fox.

A tradesman at Quebec had affronted me, by refusing to
discount a bill which I had drawn on my father. I had no other
means of paying him for the goods I had purchased of him,
and was much disconcerted at his refusal, which he accompanied
with an insult to myself and my cloth, never to be forgotten.
Turning the paper over and over, he said, " A midshipman's bill
is not worth a farthing, and I am too old a bird to be caught with
such chaff."

Conscious that the bill was good, I vowed revenge. My
search-warrant enabled me to go wherever I could get informa-
tion of men being concealed — this was easily obtained from a
brother mid (the poor man might as well have been in the
hands of the holy brotherhood). My companion stated his firm
conviction that sailors were concealed in the house : I applied
to the captain, and received orders to proceed by all means in
execution of my duty. The tradesman was a man of consequence
in Quebec, being what is there called a large storekeeper, though
we in England should have called him a shopkeeper. About
one o'clock in the morning, we hammered at his door with no
gentle tap, demanding admittance in the name of our sovereign

lord the king. We were refused, and forthwith broke open the
door, and spread over his house, like a nest of cockroaches.
Cellars, garrets, maids' rooms, ladies' rooms, we entered sans
ceremonie ; paid little regard to the Medicean costume of the
fair occupants ; broke some of the most indispensable articles
of bedroom furniture ; rattled the pots and pans about in the
kitchen ; and, finding the two sons of the master of the house,
ordered them to dress and come with us, certain, we said, that
they were sailors.

When the old tradesman saw me he began to smell a rat, and
threatened me with severe punishment. I showed him my
search-warrant, and asked him if it was a good bill. After
having inspected every part of the house, I departed, leaving
the two young cubs half dead with fear. The next day a com-
plaint was lodged at the government house ; but investigation
is a long word when a man-of-war is ordered on service. Des-
patches from Albany reached Quebec, stating that the President
of the United States had declared war against England ; in con-
sequence of which, our captain took leave of the governor, and
dropped down the river with all speed, so I never heard any
more of my tradesman.

We arrived at Halifax fully manned, and immediately received
orders to proceed to sea, ** to sink, burn, and destroy." We ran
for Boston Bay, when, on the morning we made the land, we

FRANK MILDMAY. 147

discovered ten or twelve sail of merchant vessels. The first we
boarded was a brig ; one of our boats was lowered down ; I got
into her, and jumped on the deck of the Yankee, while the
frigate continued in chase of the others. TJie master of the
vessel sat on a hen-coop, and did not condescend to rise or offer
me the least salute as I passed him ; he was a short, thick,
paunchy-looking fellow.

" You are an Englishman, I guess ? "

*' I guess I am," I said, imitating him with a nasal twang.

*' I thought we shouldn't be long in our waters afore we met
some of you old-country sarpents. No harm in what I said, I
hope ? " added the master.

" Oh, no," said I, ** not the least ; it will make no difference in
the long run. But where do you come from, and where are you
bound ? ' '

" Come from Smyrna, and bound to Boston, where I hope to
be to-morrow morning, by the blessing of God, and a good con-
science."

From this answer, I perceived that he was unacquainted with
the war, and I therefore determined to play with him a little
before I gave him the fatal news. " And pray," said I, " what
might your cargo consist of? You appear to be light."

" Not so light neither, I guess," said the man; *'we have
sweet-oil, raisins, and what we calls notions."

'* I have no notion," said I, '* what they might be. Pray ex-
plain yourself."

"Why you see, notions is what we call a little of all sorts like.
Some likes one thing, you know, and some another: some likes
sweet almonds, and some likes silk, and some likes opium, and
some " (he added, with a cunning grin) ** likes dollars."

"And are these the notions with which you are loaded?"

said I.

•' I guess they are," replied Jonathan.

" And what might your outward carg-o have been ? " said I.

" Salt fish, flour, and tobacco," was his answer.

" And is this all you have in return ? " I asked. " I thought
the Smyrna trade had been a very good one."

" Well, so it is," said the unwary Yankee. ** Thirty thousand
dollars in the cabin, besides the oil and the rest of the goods,
ain't no bad thing."

"I am very glad to hear of the dollars," said I.

" What odds does that make to you ? " said the captain ; *' it
won't be much on 'em as '11 come to your share."

" More than you may think," said I. "Have you heard the
news as you came along ? "

At the word " news/' the poor man's face became the colour

148 FRANK MILDMAY.

of one in the jaundice. " What news ? " said he, in a state of
trepidation that hardly admitted of utterance.

" Why, only that your president, Mr. Madison, has thought fit
to declare war against England."

" You're only a joking ? " said the captain.

" I give you my word of lionour I am serious,*' said I ;
"and your vessel is a prize to His Britannic Majesty's ship,
the /'

The poor man fetched a sigh from the waistband of his
trousers. " I am a ruined man,'* said he. " I only wish I'd
known a little sooner of the war you talk about : I've got two
nice little guns there forward ; you shouldn't a had me so
easily."

I smiled at his idea of resistance against a fast-sailing frigate
of fifty guns ; but left him in the full enjoyment of his conceit,
and changing the subject, asked if he had anything he could
give us to drink, for the weather was very warm,

" No, I ha' n't," he replied, peevishly ; " and if I had "

"Come, come, my good fellow," said I, "you forget you are
a prize ; civility is a cheap article, and may bring you a quick
return."

" That's true," said Jonathan, who was touched on the nicest
point — self; "that's true, you are only a doing your duty.
Here, boy, fetch up that ere demi-John of Madeira, and for
aught I know, the young officer might like a drop o' long cork ;
bring us some tumblers, and one o' they claret bottles out o' the
starboard after locker."

The boy obeyed — and the articles quickly appeared. While
this dialogue was going on, the frigate was in chase, firing guns,
and bringing-to the different vessels as she passed them,
dropping a boat on board of one, and making sail after another.
We stood after her with all the sail we could conveniently carry.

" Pray," said the captain, "might I offer you a bit of some-
thing to eat.^ I guess you ha'n't dined yet, as it isn't quite
meridian."

I thanked him, and accepted his offer : he ran down instantly
to the cabin, as if to prepare for my reception ; but I rather
thought he wished to place some articles out of my sight, and
this proved to be the case, for he stole a bag of dollars out of
the cargo. In a short time, I was invited down. '^ A leg of
cured pork, and a roasted fowl, were very acceptable to a yiid-
shipman at any time, but particularly so to me ; and, wl)en
accompanied by a few glasses of the Madeira, the barometer of
my spirits rose in proportion to the depression of his.

" Come, captain," said I, filling a bumper of claret, " here's to
a long and bloody war."

FRANK MILDMAY. 149

'* D — n the dog that wo'n't say amen to that/' said the master ;
*'but where do you mean to carry me to? I guess to Halifax.
Sha'n't I have my clothes and my own private venter ?*'

"All your private property/' said I^ **will be held sacred;
but your vessel and cargo are ours." . -

"Well, well/' said the man, '* I know that ; but if you behave
well to me, you shan't find Fm ungrateful. Let me have my
thingS; and I'll give you a bit o' news as will be of sarvice to
you.**

He then told me, on my promising him his private venture,
that we had not a moment to lose, for that a vessel, just visible
on the horizon, was from Smyrna, richly laden ,* she was com-
manded by a townsman of his, and bound to the same place.
I turned from him with contempt, and at the same moment
made the signal to speak the frigate. On going on board, I told
the captain what I had heard from the master of the prize, and
the promise I had given. He approved of it ; the proper
number of men were instantly sent back to the brig, the
prisoners taken out, and the frigate made sail in chase of the
indicated vessel, which she captured that night at nine o'clock.

I would not willingly believe that such perfidy is common
among the Americans. On parting with the master of my brig,
a sharp dialogue took place between us.

" I guess ril fit out a privateer, and take some of your mer-
chanters."

" Take care you are not taken yourself," said I, "and pass
your time on board one of our prison ships ; but, remember,
whatever may happen, it's all your own fault. You have picked
a German quarrel with us, to please Boney ; and he will only spit
in your face when you have done your best for him. Your wise
President has declared war against the mother-country."

**D — n the mother-country," muttered the Yankee; "step-
mother, I guess you mean, tarnation seize her ! i I "

We continued following the ship, and by night-time the frigate
had secured eight prizes ; one of them being a brig in ballast,
the prisoners were put on board of her, my Yankee friend among
the number, and turned adrift, to find their way home. We toofc
care to give to all of them their private ventures and their clothes.
I was in hopes of being allowed to go to Halifax with my prize ;
but the captain, knowing how I was likely to pass my time, kept
me with him. We cruised two months, taking many privateers,
some large and some small ; some we burned, and some we

scuttled.

One day we had one of these craft alongside, and having taken
everything out of her that was worth moving, we very imprudently
set hor on fire before she was clear of the ship's side ; and as we

150 FRANK MILD^rAY.

were on a wind, it was some minutes before we could get her
clear* In the meantime the fire be^'an to blaze up in a very
alarming- manner under the mizen chains, where, by the attraction
of the two floating bodies, she seemed resolved to continue ; but
on our putting the helm up, and giving the vessel a sheer the
contrary way, as soon as we were before the wind, she parted
from us, to our great joy, and was soon in a volume of fiame. Our
reason for setting her on fire alongside was to save time, as we
wanted to go in chase of another vessel, seen from the mast-
head, and lowering a boat down to destroy this vessel would have
detained us.

Before the end of the cruise, we chaseda schooner, which lan on
shore and bilg'ed ; we boarded her, brought away her crew and
part of her cargo, which was very valuable. She was from
Bordeaux, bound to Philadelphia. I was sent to examine her, and
endeavour to bring away more of her cargo. The tide rising in her,
we were compelled to dp up her decks, and discovered that she
was laden with bales of silk, broad cloths, watches, clocks, laces,
silk stockings, wine, brandy, bars of steel, olive-oil, &:c., &c. I
sent word of tliis to the captain ; and tlie carpenter and plenty of
assistants arriving, we rescued a great quantity of the goods from
the deep or the Yankee boats, who would soon have been on board
after we left her. We could perceive in the hold some cases, but
they were at least four feet under water. It was confoundedly
cold ; but I thought there was something worth diving for, so down
I went, and contrived to keep myself long enough under water to
to hook one end of a case, by which means we broke it out and got
it up. It was excellent claret, and we were not withheld from
drinking it by any scruples of conscience ; for if I had not dived
for it, it would never have come to the mouth of an Englishman.
We discussed a three-dozen case among just so many of us, in a
reasonable short time ; and as it was Octobei, we felt no ill effects
from a frequent repetition of the dose.

I never felt colder, and diving requires much stimulant. From
practice at this work, I could pick up pins and needles in a clear,
sandy bottom ; and, considering tl^e density of the medium, could
hve like a beaver under water ; but I required ample fees for my
trouble. When we returned on board, we were very wet and cold,
and the wine took no effect on us ; but as soon as we thawed, like
the horn of the great Munchausen, the secret escaped, for we were
all tipsy. The captain inquired the cause of this the next day,
and I very candidly told him the whole history. He was wise
enough to laugh at it ; some captains would have flogged every
one of the men, and disgraced the off cers. -

On our return into port, I requested permission to go to Eng^land
in order to pass my examination as lieutenant, having nearly com-

FRANK MILDMAY. 151

pleted my servitude as a midshipman. I was asked to remain out,
and take my chance for promotion in the flagship ; but more
reasons than I chose to give induced me to prefer an examination
at a seaport in England, and I obtained my discharge and came
home. The reader will no doubt give me credit for having written
some aozen of letters to Eugenia : youth, beauty, and transient
possession had still preserved my attachment to her unabated.
Emily I had heard of, and still loved with a purer flame. She was
my sun ; Eugenia my moon ; and the fair favourites of the western
hemisphere, so many twinkling stars of the first, second, and third
magnitude. I loved them all more or less ; but all their charms
vanished, when the beauteous Emily shone in my breast with

refulgent light.

I had received letters from my father, who wished me to come
home, that he might present me to some of the great men of the
nation, and secure my promotion to the highest ranks of the
service. This advice was good, and, as it suited my views, I
followed it. I parted with my captain on the best terms, took
leave of all my messmates and the officers in the same friendly
manner; and last, not least, went round to the ladies, kissing,
hugging, crying, and swearing love and eternal attachment.
Nothing I declared, should keep me from Halifax, as soon as I
had passed ; nothing prevent my marrying one, as soon as I was
a lieutenant ; a second was to have the connubial knot tied when
I was a commander ; and a third, as soon as I was made a captain.
Oh, how hke was I to Don Galaor ! Oh, how unlike the constant
Amadis de Gaul ! But, reader, you must take me as I was, n(5tas
I ought to have been.

After a passage of six weeks, I arrived at Plymouth, and had
exactly completed my six years' servitude.

CHAPTER XV.

Examine him closely, goodman Dry ; spare him not. Ask him impos-
sible questions. Let us thwart him, let us thwart him.

Bp:aumont and Fletcher.

Soon after my arrival at Plymouth, notice was given by a general
order, issued from the flag-ship, that a passing day for the exam-
ination of midshipmen, as touching their qualifications for the rank
of lieutenant, would be held on board the Salvador del Mu7ido,
in Hamoaze, I lost no time in acquainting my father with this,
and telling him that I felt quite prepared, and meant to offer my-
self. Accordingly, on the day appointed, your humble servant.

152 FRANK MILDMAY.

with some fourteen or fifteen other youthful aspirants, assembled
on board the flag-ship. Each was dressed out in his No. i suit,
in most exact and unquizzable uniform, with a large bundle of log-
books under our arms. We were all huddled together in a small
screened canvas cabin, like so many sheep ready for slaughter.

About eleven o'clock, the captains who were to be our Minos
and our Rhadamanthus made their appearance, and we all agreed
that we did not much like the " cut of their jibs.'* At
twelve o*clock the first name was called. The '* desperate
youth " tried to pluck up a little courage — he cleared his throat,
pulled up his shirt-collar, touched his neckerchief, and seizing his
cocked-hat and journals, boldly followed the messenger into the
captain's cabin, where three grave-looking gentlemen, in undress
uniform, awaited him. They were seated at a round table ; a clerk
was at the elbow of the president; '* Moore* s Navigation/* that
wise redoubtable, lay before them ; together with a nautical
almanack, a slate and pencil, ink and paper. The trembling
middy advanced to the table, and having most respectfully de-
posited his journals and certificates of sobriety and good conduct,
was desired to sit down. The first questions were merely theo-
retical ; and although in the gun-room, or in any other company,
he would have acquitted himself with ease, he was so abashed
and confounded, that he lost his head entirely, trembled at the
first question, stared at the second, and having no answer to
make to the third, was dismissed, with directions "to go to sea
six months longer.*'

He returned to us with a most woe-begone countenance ; I never
saw a poor creature in greater mental torment. I felt for him the
more, as I knew not how soon his case might be my own. Another
was called, and soon returned with no better success ; and the
description he gave of the bullying conduct of the youngest passing
captain was such as to damp the spirits, and enough to stultify
minds so inexperienced as ours, and where so much depended on
our success. This hint was, however, of great use to me. Theory,
I found, was the rock on which they had split ; and in this part of
my profession I knew my powers, and was resolved not to be bowled
out by the young captain. But while I thus resolved, a third
candidate was returned to us, re infectd ; and this was a young
man on whose talents I could have relied : I began to doubt my-
self. When the fourth came out with a smiling face, and told us
he had passed, I took a little breath ; but even tiiis comfort was
snatched from me in a moment, by his saying that one of the
passing captains was a friend of his father. Here then was solved
an enigma ; for this fellow, during the short time I was in his
company, gave proof of being no better than a simpleton.

On my own name being called, I felt a flutter about the heart

FRANK MILDMAY. 153

which I did not feel in action, or in the hurricane, or when, in a
case more desperate than either, I jumped overboard at Spithead,
to swim to my dear Kugenia. *' Powers of Impudence, as well as
Ali^ebra," said I, "lend me your aid, or I am undone." In a
moment the cabin door flew open, the sentinel closed it after me,
and I found myself in the presence of this most awful triumvirate.
I felt very like l^aniel in the lion's den, I Vv'as desired to take a
chair, and a short discussion ensued betsveen the judp^es, which I
neither heard nor wished to hear : but wliile it lasted I had time
to survey my antagonists from head to foot. I encouraged myself
to think that I was equal to one of them ; and if I could only neu-
tralize him, I thought I should very easily floor the other two.

One of these officers had a face like a painted pumpkin ; and
his hand, as it lay on the table, looked more like the fin of a
turtle ; the nails were bitten so close off, that the very remains
of them seemed to have retreated into the flesh, for fear of
further depredation, which the other hand was at the moment
suffering. Thinks I to myself, '' If ever I saw * lodgings to let,
unfurnished,' it is in that cocoa-nut, or pumpkin, or gourd of
yours.'' ^'

The next captain to him was a little, thin, dark, dried-up,
shrivelled fellow, with keen eyes, and a sharp nose. The mid-
shipmen called him, "Old Chili Vinegar," or, *' Old Hot and
Sour." He was what we term a martinet. He would keep a
man two months on his black list, giving him a breech of a gun
to polish and keep bright, never allowing him time to mend his
clothes, or keep himself clean, while he was cleaning that which,
for all the purposes of war, had better have been black. He
seldom flogged a man ; but he tormented him into sullen dis-
content, by what he called '* keeping the devil out of his mind."
This little nightmare, who looked like a dried eel-skin, I soon
found was the leader of the band.

The third captain was a tall, well-looking, pompous man
(he was the junior officer of the three), with a commanding
and most unbending countenance : " He would not ope
his mouth in way of smile, though Nestor swore the jest was
laughable."

I had just time to finish my survey, and form a rough
estimate of the qualities of my examiners, when I was put upon
my trial, by the president, who thus addressed me : —

" You are perfect in the theory of navigation, I presume, sir, or
you would not come here ? "

I replied, that I hoped 1 should be found so, if they would
please to try me.

" Ready enough with his answer," said the tall captain; "I

154 FRANK MILDMAY.

dare say this fellow is jaw-master general in the cock-pit. —
Whom did you serve your time with, sir ? "

I stated the different captains I had served with, particularly
Lord Edward,

" Oh, ay, that's enouo-h ; you niicst be a smart fellow, if you
have served with Lord Edward."

I understood the envious and sarcastic manner in which
this was uttered, and prejjared accordingly for an arduous
campaign, quite sure that this man, who was no seaman, would
have been too happy in turning back one of Lord Edward's
midshipmen. Several problems were given to me, which I
readily solved, and returned to them. They examined my
logs and certiiicates with much seeming scrutiny, and then
ventured a question in the higher branches of mathematics.
This I also solved ; but I found talent was not exactly what
they wanted. The little skinny captain seemed rather dis-
appointed that he could not find fault with me. A difficult
problem in spherical trigonometry lay before them, carefully
drawn out, and the result distinctly marked at the bottom; but
this I was not, of course, permitted to see. I soon answered the
question ; tliey compared my work with that which had been pre-
pared for them ; and as they did not exactly agree, I was told that
L was wrong. I was not disconcerted, and very deliberately
looking over my work, I told them I could not discover any error,
and was able to prove it by inspection, by Canon, by Gunter, or by
figure.

" You think yourself a very clever fellow, I dare say,*' said the
little fat captain,

"A second Euclid ! " said the tall captain. " Pray, sir, do you
know the meaning of ' Pons Asi?ioruin ? ' "

" Bridge of Asses, sir," said 1, staring him full in the face, with
a smile under the skin.

Nov/ it was very clear to me that the little fat captain had
never heard of the Asses' Bridge before, and tlierefore supposed
1 was quizzing the tall captain, who, from having been what
we used to term a "harbour-duty man" all his life, had heard
of the Pons Asinorum^ but did not know which of the problems
of EucHd it was, nor how it was applicable to navigation. The
fat captain, therefore burst into a hoarse laugh, saying, " I think
he hits you hard; you had better let him alone : he will puzzle you
presently."

Nettled at this observation of his brother officer, the tall captain
was put upon his mettle, and insisted that the question last pro-
posed was not satisfactorily answered, and swore by G — that he
never would sign my certificate until I did it.

I persisted ; the two works were compared : I was threatened

FRANK MILDMAY. 155

to be turned back ; when, \o ! to the dismay of the party, the
error was found in their own work. The fat captain, who was
a well-meaning man, laughed heartily ; the other two looked very
silly and very angry,

"Enough of this, sir," said the martinet: "now stand up,
and let us see what you can do witli a ship." A ship was
supposed to be on the stocks ; she was launched ; I was
appointed to her, and, as first lieutenant, ordered to prepare
her for sea. I took her into dock, and saw her coppered;
tocjk her along the sheer-hulk, masted her; laid her to the
bailast-wharf, took in and stowed her iron ballast and her tanks ;
moved off to a hulk or receiving ship, rigged her completely,
bent her sails, took in guns, stores, and provisions ; reported
her ready for sea, and made the signal for a pilot : took her
out of harbour, and was desired to conduct her into other
harbours, pointing out the shoals and dangers of Portsmouth,
Plymouth, Falmouth, the Downs, Yarmouth Roads, and even
to Shetland. ^'^

But the little martinet and the tall captain had not forgiven me
for hehig rig-ht in the problem, and uiy examination continued.
They put my ship into every possible situation which the numerous
casualties of a sea life present in such endless variety. I set and
took in every sail, from a sky-sail to a try-sail. I had my masts
shot away, a7:d I rig^ged jury-masts : I made sail on them, and
was getting fairly into port, when the little martinet very cruelly
threw my ship on her beam-ends on a dead lee-shore, a dark night,
and blowing a hurricane, and told me to get her out of that scrape
if I could. I replied that, if there was anchorage, I should anchor,
and take my chance ; but if there was no anchorage, neither he
nor any one else could save the ship, without a change of wind, or
the special interference of Providence. This did not satisfy old
Chili Vineg'ar. I saw that I was persecuted, and that the end
would be fatal to my hopes : I therefore became indifferent ;
was fatigued with the endless questions put to me ; and, very
fortunately for me, made a mistake, at least in the opinion of
the tall captain. The question at that time was one which was
much controverted in the service; namely, whether on being
taken fiat aback, you should put your helm a turn or two alee, or
keep it amidship ? I preferred the latter mode ; but the tall
captain insisted on the former, and gave his reasons. Finding
myself on debatable ground, I gave way, and thanked him for
his advice, which I said I should certainly follow whenever the
case occurred to me ; not that I felt convinced then, and have
since found that he was wrong; still my apparent tractability
pleased his self-love, and he became my advocate. " He

156 FRANK MILDMAY.

grinned horribly a ghastly smile," and, turning to th^ other
captains, asked if they were satisfied.

This question, like the blow of the auctioneer's hammer, ends
all discussion ; for captains, on these occasions, never gainsay
each other ; I was told that my passing certificate would be
signed. ^ I made my best bow and my exit, reflecting, as I re-
turned to the " sheep-pen," that 1 had nearly lost my promotion
by wounding their vanity, and iiad regained my ground by flatter-
ing it. Thus the world goes on ; and from my earliest days, my
mind was strengthened and confirmed in every vice by the
pernicious example of my superiors.

I might have passed much more easily abroad. I remember,
one fine day at sea, in the West Indies, a boat was lowered
down, and sent with a young midshipman (whose time was not
fairly served, and whose age and appearance indicated anything
but nautical knowledge) to a ship then in company ; in a quarter
of an hour he returned, with his passing certificate. We were all
astonished, and inquired what questions were put to him ; he said,
" None at all, except as to the health of my father and mother ;
and whether I would have port or white wine and water. On
coming away," the brat added, *^one of the captains desired I
would, when I wrote home, give his best respects to Lord and

Lady G- . He had ordered a turkey to be picked and put in

the boat for me, and wished me success."

This boy was soon afterwards made a post-captain ; but, for-
tunately for the service, died on his passage to England.

There was certainly some difference between this examination
and mine ; but when it was over, I rejoiced at the severity of
my ordeal. My pride, my darling pride, was tickled at the
triumph of my talents ; and as I wiped away the perspiration
from my forehead, I related my difficulties, my trials, and my
success, with a degree of self-complacency that in any other
person I should have called egregious vanity. One good effect
resulted from my long examination, which continued an hour
and a half — this was, that the captains passed all the other
midshipmen with very few questions. They were tired of their
employment ; and thus it was only the poor unlucky devils
that took off the fiery edge of their morning zeal, who suffered ;
and among "the plucked," it was known there were much
cleverer fellows than many of those who had come off with fiying

colours.

There was one circumstance which amused me. Whc^ the
captains came on deck, the little Chili Vinegar called me to him,

and inquired whether I was any relation to Mr. -. I replied

that he was my uncle.

** Bless my soul, sir ! why he is my most intimate friend.

FRANK MILDMAY. 157

Why did you not tell me you were his nephew ? "

I answered with an affected humility, very nearly allied to
impertinence, that I could not see by his face that he knew my
uncle ; nor, indeed, had I known it, should I have thought it
delicate to have mentioned it at such a time ; as it might not
only have implied a want of confidence in my own abilities,
but also a suspicion that he might, by such a communication,
have been induced to deviate from the rigid path of his duty,
and might therefore have received it as a personal affront.

" All that is very fine, and very true,** said the veteran : '* but
when you have an older head upon your shoulders, and have seen
a little more of our service, you will learn to trust at least as much
to friends as to merit ; and rely on it, that if you could make
yourself out cousin-german to the old tom-cat at the Admiralty,
you would fare all the better for it. However, it's all over now,
and there's an end of it; but make my compliments to your uncle,
and tell him that you passed your examination in a manner highly
creditable to you."

So saying, he touched his hat to the sergeant's guard, and
slipped down the side into his gig. As he descended, I said to
myself, " D — n your monkey face, you coffee-coloured little
rascal — no thanks to you if I have passed. I suppose your
father was a breeches-mender to the first lord's butler, or else
you shared your mother's milk with a lord in waiting, and that's
the way you got the command of the ."

Elated with the result of the day, I threw myself- into the
mail that evening, and reached my father's house in a short
time after. My reception was kind and affectionate; but death
had made sad havoc in my family during my late absence.
My elder brother and two sisters had been successively called
to join my poor mother in heaven, and all that remained now
to comfort my father was a younger sister and myself. I must
confess that my father received me with great emotion ; his
own heavy afflictions from the loss of his children, and the
dangers I had undergone, as well as the authentic assurances
he had received of my good conduct, were more than suffi-
cient to bury all my errors in oblivion ; and he appeared, and
I have no doubt really was, fonder and prouder of me than
ever.

As to what my own feelings were on this occasion, I shall
not attempt to disguise them. Sorry I certainly was for the
death of my nearest relatives ; but when the intelligence reached
me, I was in the midst of the most active service. Death in
all its forms had become familiar to me ; and so little impres-
sion did the event make on my mind, that I did not interrupt
the thread of my history to speak of it when it occurred. I

iS8 FRANK MILDMAY.

take shame to myself for not feeling more ; but I am quite sure
from this one instance in my life, that the feelings are blunted
in proportion to the increase of misery around us ; that the
parent, who, in a moment of peace and domestic tranquillity,
would be agonized at the loss of one child, would view the
death of ten with comparative indifference, when surrounded by
war, pestilence, or famine.

My feelings, never very acute in this respect, were com-
pletely blunted by my course of life. These fond recollections
which, in a calm scene, would have wrung from me some tears
to their memory, were now drowned or absorbed in the waste,
the profligacy, and the dissipation of war : and shall I add,
that I easily reconciled myself to a loss which was likely so
much to increase my worldly gain. For my eldest brother, I
ewn that, even from childhood, I had felt a jealousy and
dislike, fostered, as I think, in some measure unwisely, and
in part* unavoidably, by the conduct of my parents. In
all matters of choice or distinction, Tom was to have the
preference, because he was the oldest : this I thought hard
enough ; but when Tom had new clothes at Midsummer
and Christmas, and his old ones were converted to my use,
I honestly own that I wished the devil had Tom. As a point
of economy, perhaps, this could not be avoided ; but it en-
gendered a hatred towards my brother which often made me,
in my own \ittle malignant mind, find excuses for the conduct of
Cain.

Tom was to be sure, what is called a good boy ; he never
soiled his clothes, as I did. I was always considered as a rantipole,
for whom anything was good enough. But when I saw my
brother tricked out in new clothes, and his old duds covering
me like a scarecrow, I appeal to any honourable mind whether
it was in human nature to feel otherwise than I did, without
possessing an angelic disposition, to which I never pretended ;
and I fairly own that I did shed not one-fiftieth part so many tears
over Tom's grave as I did over his dirty pantaloons, when forced
to put them on.

As for my sisters I knew little about them, and caved *ess ;
we mtt during the holidays, and separated, without regret,
after a month's quarrelling. When I went to sea, I ceased to
think about them, concluding there was no love lost; bat when
I found that death had for ever robbed me of two of them, I
felt the irretrievable loss. I reproached myself with my cold-
ness and neglect; and the affection I had denied to them, I
heaped threefold on xnv remaining sister : even before I had ever
seen her on my return, the tide of fraternal love flowed toward
her with an uacontrollable violence. All that I ought to have

FRANK MILDMAY. 159

felt towards the others, was concentrated in her, and displayed
itself with a force which surprised even myself.

Perhaps the reader may be astonished that my first mquiry
in London, when I had seen my father and my family, should
not have been after poor Eugenia, whom I had left, and who
also had 'quitted me, under such very peculiar and interesting-
circumstances. I cannot, however, claim much credit for having
performed this duty. I did go, without loss of time, to her
agent ; and all that my most urgent entreaty could obtain
from him was, that she was well ; that I still had credit at his
house for any sum I chose to draw for in moderation ; but that
her place of abode must, till further orders from her, remain a

secret.
As my father did not want interest, and my claims were

backed by good certificates, I received my commission as a
lieutenant in His Majesty's navy about a fortnight after my
arrival' in London; but not being appointed to any ship, I re-
solved to enjoy the *■' otium cum digy and endeavour to make
myself some amends for the hard campaign I had so lately
completed in North America. I felt the transport of being a
something : at least, I could live independent of my father, let
the worst come to the werst ; and I shall ever think this step
gave me more real pleasure than either of the two subsequent
ones which I have lived to attain. No sooner, therefore, had
I taken up my commission, than my thoughts turned on my

Emily ; and two days after the attainment of my rank, I
mentioned to my father my intention of paying a visit to

Hall.
He was at the time in high good humour ; we were sitting

over our bottle of claret, after an excellent tete-a-tete dinner, dur-
ing which I contributed very much to his amusement by the
recital of some of my late adventures. He shuddered at my
danger in the hurricane, and his good-humoured sides had well-
nigh cracked with laughter when I recounted my pranks at
Quebec and Prince Edward's Island. When I spoke of Miss
Somerville, my father said he had no doubt she would be happy
to see me — that she was now grown a beautiful girl, and was the
toast of the county.

I received this information with an apparent cool indifference
which I was far from feeling inwardly, for my heart beat at the
intelligence. "Perhaps," said I, picking my teeth, and looking
at my mouth in a little ivory etui — "perhaps slie may be grown
a fine girl : she bade fair to be so when I saw her ; but fine
girls are plentiful nowadays, since the vaccine has turned
out the small-pox. Besides, the girls have now another chance
of. a good shape J they are allowed to take the air, instead of

i6o FRANK MILDMAY.

sitting* all day with their feet in the stocks and their dear sweet
noses bent over a French grammar under the rod of a French
governess,"

Why I took so much pains to conceal from the best of parents
the real state of my heart, I know not, except that from habit
dex;eit was to me more readily at hand than candour, certainly
my attachment to this fair and virtuous creature could not
cause me to blush, except at my own unworthiness of so much
excellence. My father looked disappointed — -I knew not why
— but I afterwards learned that the subject of our union had,
since my brother's death, been discussed and agreed to between
him and Mr. Somerville ; and that our marriage was only to be
deferred until I should have attained the rank of captain, pro-
vided that the parties were agreed.

*' I thought," said my father, *' that you were rather smitten in

that quarter ? "

" Me smitten, sir? " said I, with a look of astonishment. ** I
have, it is true, a very high respect for Miss Somerville ; but as
for being in love with her, 1 trust no little attentions on my part
have been so construed. I have paid her no more attention than
I may have done to any pretty girl I meet with." (This was
indeed true, too true.)

Well, well," said my father, ''it is a mistake on my

part.

And here the conversation on that subjec't was dropped.

It appeared that after the little arrangement between Mr.
Somerville and my father, and when I had gone to join my ship
in America, they had had some communication tog-ether, in
which Mr. Somerville disclosed, that having questioned his
daughter, she had ingenuously confessed that I was not in-
different to her. She acknowledged, with crimson blushes, that
I had requested and obtained a lock of her hair. This Mr.
Somerville told my- father in confidence. He was not, there-
fore, at liberty to mention it to me ; but it sufficiently accounts
for his astonishment at my seeming indifference, for the two
worthy parents had naturally concluded that it was a match, .f

Confounded and bewildered by my asseveration, that my father
knew not whose veracity to impeach ; but charitably concluding
there was some mistake, or that I was, as heretofore, a fickle,
thoughtless being, considered himself bound in honour to co.j-
municate the substance of our conversation to Mr. Somerville ;
and the latter no sooner received it, than he placed the letter in
Emily's hands— a very comfortable kind of avant-coureur for a
lover, after an absence from his mistress of full three years.

I arrived at the Hall, bursting with impatience to see the
lovely girl, whose hold on my heart and affection was infinitely

it

JRANK MILDMAY, i6i

stronger than I had ever supposed. Darting from the chaise,
I flew into the sitting-room, where she usually passed her morn-
ing. I was now in my twenty-second year; my figure was
decidedly of a handsome cast ; my face, what I knew most
women admired. My personal advantages were heightened by
the utmost attention to dress ; the society of the fair Arcadians
had very much polished my manners, and I had no more of
the professional roughness of the sea, than what, like the crust
of the port wine, gave an agreeable flavour ; my countenance
was as open and as ingenuous as my heart was deceitful and
desperately wicked.

Emily rose with much agitation, and in an instant was clasped
in my arms : not that the movement was voluntary on her part, it
was wholly on mine. She rather recoiled, but for an instant
seemed to have forgotten the fatal communication which her father
had made to her not two hours before. She allowed me — perhaps
she could not prevent it — to press her to my heart. She soon,
however, regained her presence of mind, and, gently disengaging
herself, gave vent to her feelings in a violent flood of tears.

Not at the time recollecting the conversation with my father,
much less suspecting that Emily had been made acquainted
with it, I cannot but confess that this reception surprised me.
My caresses were repulsed, as coming from one totally disqualified
to take such freedom. She even addressed me as Mr. Mildmay,
instead of " Frank."

" What may all this mean, my dearest Emily,*' said I, " after
so long an absence ? What can I have done to make so great
an alteration in your sentiments ? Is this the reward of affection
and constancy ? Have I so long worn this dear emblem of your
affection next my heart, in battle and in tempest, to be spurned
from you like a cur on my return ? '*

I felt that I had a clear right to boast of constancy ; nor
were the flirtations of Halifax and Quebec at all incompatible
with such a declaration. The fair sex will start at this pro-
position ; but it is nevertheless true. Emily was to me what the
Dutchman's best anchor was to him — he kept it at home, for fear
of losing it. He used other anchors in different ports, that
answered the purpose tolerably well ; but this best bower he
always intended to ride by in the Nieu diep, when he had escaped
all the dangers and quicksands of foreign shores : such was Emily
to me. I thought of her when in the very jaws of the shark ; I
thought of her when I mounted the rigging in the hurricane; I
thought of her when bored and tormented to madness by the old
passing captains ; all, all I might gain in renown was for her.
Why, then, traitor like, did I deny her ? For no other reason that

i62 FRANK MILDMAY,

I can devise, than that endless love of plot and deceit which had
"grown with my growth."

Madame de Stael has pronounced love to be an episode in a
man's life ; and so far it is true. There are as many episodes in
life as there are in novels and romances ; but in neither case do
they destroy the general plot of the history, although they may,
for the time, distract or divert our attention. Here, then, is the
distinction between passion and love. I felt a passion for Eugenia,
love for Emily. And why ? Because although it was through my
own persuasions and entreaties that her scruples had been over-
come ; although it was through her affection for me which would
not allow her to refuse me any demand, even to the sacrifice of
herself, that Eugenia had fallen, — still, in the eyes of society,
she had fallen ; and I did not offer up a pure and
holy love to that which was not accounted pure. In this I gave
waj^, ungratefully, to the heartless casuistry of the world. But
Emily, enshrined in modesty, with every talent, equa^, if not su-
perior charms, defended by rank and connection, was a flower
perpetually blooming on the stem- of virtue, that it would have
amounted to sacrilege to attempt to have plucked: and the
attempt itself would have savoured of insanity, from the utter
hopelessness of success. Every sentiment connected with her was
pure from mere selfishness. Not for worlds would I have injured her ;
because in destroying her peace of mind, my own would have fled
for ever. When I contemplated our final union, I blushed for my
own unworthiness ; and looked forward to the day when, by
repentance and amendment, I might be deemed v/orthy to lead her
to the altar.

I had not time to pursue these reflections any further. Emily
heard my appeal, and rising from her seat in the most dignified
manner, addressed me in the commanding language of conscious
virtue and injured innocence.

''Sir," said she, "I trust I am too honest to deceive you, or
any one ; nor have I done that of which I need be ashamed.
Whatever reasons I may have to repent of mymisplacedconfidence,
I will make no secret of that which now compels me to change my
opinion of you ; you will find them amply detailed in this paper,"
at the same time putting into my hand the letter from my father
to Mr. Somerville.

In a moment the mystery was unravelled, and conviction flashed
in my face like the priming of a musket. Guilty and convicted on
the clearest evidence, I had nothing left for it but to throw myself
on her mercy ; but while I stood undecided, and unknowing what
to do, Mr. Somerville entered, and welcomed me with kind, but
cool hospitality. Seeing Emily in tears, and my father's letter in

FkANK MILDMAY. 163

her hand, he knew that an eclatrcissement had taken place, or
was in progress. In this situation, candour, and an honest con-
fession that I felt a 7nattvaise honte in disclosing my passion to
my father, would undoubtedly have been my safest course ; but my
right trusty friend; the devil, stepped in to my assistance, and
suggested deceit, or a continuation of that chain by which he had
long since bound me, and not one link of which he took care should
ever be broken ; and, fortunately for me, this plan answered at the
time better than candour.

"I must acknowledge, sir,*' said I, "that appearances are
against me. I can only trust to your patient hearing while I state
the real facts. Allow me first to say, that my father's observa-
tions are hardly warranted by the conversation which took place ;
and if you will please, in the first place to consider that that very
conversation originated in my expressing a wish and intention of
coming down to see you, and to produce to your daughter the
memento so carefully guarded during my long absence, you must
perceive that there is an incongruity in my conduct difficult to
explain ; but still, through all these mazes and windings, I trust
that truth and constancy will be found at the bottom. You may
probably laugh at the idea, but I really felt jealous of my father's
praises so lavishly bestowed on Miss Somerville ; and not supposing
he was aware of my attachment, I began to fear he had pretensions
of his own . He is a widower, healthy, and not old ; and it appeared
to me, that he only wanted my admiration to justify his choice of
a step-mother for myself and sister. Thus, between love for Miss
Somerville, and respect for my father, I scarcely knew how to act.
That I should for one moment have felt jealous of my father I now
acknowledge with shame ; yet labouring under the erroneous sup-
position of his attachment to an object which had been the only
one of my adoration, I could not make up^ny mind to a disclosure
which I feared would have renewed our differences and produced
the most insuperable bars to our future reconciliation. This thought
burned in my brain, and urged the speed of the jaded post-horses.
If you will examine the drivers, they will tell you that the whole
way from town they have been stimulated by the rapping of a
Spanish dollar on the glass of the chaise. I dreaded my father
getting the start of me ; and busy fancy painted him to my heated
imagination kneeling at the feet of my beloved Emily. Condemn
me not, therefore, too harshly ; only allow me the same lenient
judgment which you exercised when I first had the pleasure of
making your acquaintance.*'

This last sentence delicately recalled the scene at the mn, and
the circumstances of my first introduction. The defence was not
bad ; it wanted but one simple ingredient to have made it excellent
—I mean truth ; but the court being strongly biassed in favour of

i64 FRANK MILDMAY.

the prisoner, I was acquitted, and at the same time *' admonished
to be more careful in future." The reconciliation produced a few
more tears from my beloved Emily, who soon after slipped out of
the room to recover her flurry.

When Mr. Somerville and myself were left together, he ex-
plained to me the harmless plot which had been laid for the
union between his daughters and myself. How true it is, that
the falling out of lovers is the renewal of love ! The fair, white
hand extended to me was kissed with the more rapture, as I had
feared the losing of it for ever. None enjoy the pleasures of a
secure port as he who has been tempest tossed and in danger of
shipwreck.

The dinner and the evening were among the happiest I can
remember. We sat but a short time over our wine, as I pre-
ferred following my mistress to the little drawing-room, where tea
and coffee were prepared, and where the musical instruments were
k»pt, Emily sang and played to me, and I sang and accompanied
her; and I thought all the clocks and watches in the house were
at least three hours too fast, when, as it struck twelve, the signal
was made to retire,

I had no sooner laid my head on my pillow, than I began to
call myself to a severe account for my duplicity; for somehow
or other, I don't know how it is, conscience is a very difficult
sort of gentleman to deal with. A tailor's bill you may avoid
by crossing the Channel ; but the duns of conscience follow you
to the antipodes, and will be satisfied. I ran over the events
of the day ; I reflected that I had been on the brink of losing
my Emily by ^n act of needless and unjustifiable deceit and
double-dealing. Sooner or later I was convinced that this part
of my character would be made manifest, and that shame and
punishment would oi^rwhelm me in utter ruin. The success
which had hitherto attended me was no set-off against the risk
I ran of losing for ever this lovely girl, and the respect and
esteem of her father. For her sake, therefore, I made a vow for
ever to abandon this infernal system. I mention this more
particularly as it was the first healthy symptom of amendment
I had discovered, and one to which I long and tenaciously
adhered— as far, at least, as nay habits and pursuits in life would
allow me. I forgot, at that time, that to be ingenuous it was
necessary to be virtuous. There is no cause for concealment
whesn we do not act wrongly.

A letter from Mr. Somerville to my father explained my con-
duct ; and my father, in reply, said I certainly must have been
mad. To this I assented, quoting Shakspeare — *'The lunatic,
the lover, and the poet," 6cc. I So long as I was out of the
scrape, I cared little about the impeachment of my rationality.

PRANS: MlLDMAY. 165

The days at the Hall flew, just like all the days of happy
lovers, confoundedly fast. The more I saw of Emily, the firmer
and faster did she rivet my chains. I was her slave ; but what
was best, I became a convert to virtue because she was virtuous ;
and to possess her, I knew I must become as like her as my
corrupt mind and unruly habits would permit. I viewed my
past life with shame and contrition. When I attended this
amiable, lovely creature to church on a Sunday, and saw her in
the posture of devotion before her Maker, I thought her an
angel, and I thought it heaven to be near her. All my thoughts
and sentiments seemed changed and refined by her example and
her company. The sparks of religion, so long buried in the
ashes of worldly corruption and infidelity, began to revive. I
recalled my beloved mother and the Bible to my recollection ;
and could I have been permitted to have remained longer with
my "governess,*' I have no doubt that I should have regained
both purity of mind and manner. I should have bidden adieu
to vice and folly, because they could not have dwelt under the
same roof with Emily; and I should have loved the Bible and
religion, because they were beloved by her : but my untoward
destiny led me a different way.

CHAPTER XVI.

And oft his smooth and bridled tongue
Would give the lie to his flushing cheek ;

He was a coward to the strong ;
He was a tyrant to the weak. Shelley.

My fathei^ as soon as he had obtained my promotion, asked
for my being employed ; and having had a promise from the
Admiralty, that promise, unlike thousands of its predecessors
and successors, was too rapidly fulfilled. I received a letter
from my father, and a bouncing one from the Admiralty by the

same post, announcing officially my appointment to the D

brig, of eighteen guns, at Portsmouth, whither I was directed
to repair immediately, and take up my commission. In this
transaction I soon after found there was an underplot, which I
was too green to perceive at the time ; but the wise heads of
the two papas had agreed that a separation between the lovers
was absolutely necessary, and that the longer it was delayed the
worse it would be for both of us ; in short, that until I had
attained my rank, nothing should be thought of in the way of
matrimony.

i66 FRANK MILDMAY.

As the reader is, no doubt, by this time pretty well versed in
all the dialogue of parting lovers, I shall not intrude upon his
or her patience with a repetition of that which has been much
too often repeated, and is equally familiar to the prince and the
ploughman, I should as soon think of describing the Devil's
Punch-bowl on the road to Portsmouth, where I arrived two days
after my appointment.

I put up at Billet's, at the George, as a matter of course, be-
cause it was the resort of all the naval aristocracy, and directly
opposite to the admiral's office. The first person for whom I
made my kind inquiries was my captain elect; but he herded
not with his brother epaulettes. He did not live at the George,
nor did he mess at the Crown, he was not at the Fountain, nor
the Parade Coffee-house ; and the Blue Posts ignored him ; but
he was to be heard of at the Star and Garter on the tip of
Portsmouth Point. He did not even live there, but generally
resided on board. This does not savour well ; I never like your
captains who live on board their ships in harbour ; no ship can be
comfortable, for no one can do as he pleases, which is the life and
soul of a man-of-war when in port.

To the Star and Garter I went, and asked for Captain

G . I hoped I should not find him here ; for this house

had been, time out of mind, the rendezvous of warrant officers,
mates, and midshipmen. Here, however, he was ; I sent up my
card, and was admitted to his presence. He was seated in a
small parlour, with a glass of brandy and water, or at least the
remains of it, before him ; his feet were on the fender, and
several official documents, which he had received that morning,
were lying on the table. He rose as I entered, and showed me
a short, square-built frame, with a strong projection of the
sphere, or what the Spaniards call barriga. This rotundity of
corporation was, however, supported by as fine a pair of Atlas
legs as ever were worn by a Bath chairman. His face was
rather inclined to be handsome ; the features regular, a pleasant
smile upon his lips, and a deep dimple in his chin. But his
most remarkable feature was his eye ; it was small but piercing,
and seemed to possess that long-sought desideratum the per-
petual motion, since it was utterly impossible to fix it for one
moment on any object ; and there was in it a lurking expression
which, though something of a physiognomist, I could not readily
decipher.

" Mr. Mildmay," said my skipper, *' I am extremely happy to
see you, and still more so that you have been appointed to my
ship ; will you be seated ? "

As I obeyed, he turned round, and rubbing his hands as if
he had just laid down his soap, he continued, "I always make

FRANK MILDMAY. 167

it a rule, previous to an officer joining my ship, to learn some-
thing of his character from my brother captains ; it is a precau-
tion which I take, as I consider that * one scabby sheep, &c.,'
is strictly applicable to our service. I wish to have good officers
and perfect gentlemen about me. There are, no doubt, many
officers who can do their duty well, and with whom I should have
no fault to find ; but then there is a way of doing it — a modus in
rebus y which a gentleman can only attain to ; coarse manners, exe-
crations, and abusive language, render the men discontented,
degrade the service, and are therefore very properly forbidden in
the second article of war. Under such officers, the men always
work unwillingly. I have taken the liberty to make some inquiries
about you ; and can only say, that all I have heard is to your
advantage. I have no doubt we shall suit each other ; and be
assured it shall be my study to make you as comfortable as
possible."

To this very sensible and polite address, I made a suitable
reply. He then stated that he expected to sail in a few days ;
that the officer whom I was to supersede had not exactly suited
his ideas, although he believed him to be a very worthy young
man ; and that, in consequence, he had applied and succeeded
in obtaining for him another appointment ; that it was necessary
he should join his ship immediately ; but, of course, he must
first be superseded by me. "Therefore," said he, "you had
better meet me on board the brig to-morrow morning at nine
o'clock, when your commission shall be read; and after that I
beg you will consider yourself your own master for a few days,
as I presume you have some little arrangements to prepare for
your cruise. I am aware," pursued he, smiling most benignantly,
" that there are many little comforts which officers wish to at-
tend to ; such as fitting their cabins and looking to their mess,
and a thousand other nameless things, which tend to pass the
time and break up the monotony of a sea life. Forty years
have I trod the king's planks, man and boy, and not with any
great success, as you may perceive, by the rank 1 now hold and
the life I am leading ; for here I sit over a glass of humble
grog, instead of joining my brother captains in their claret at
the Crown ; but I have two sisters to support, and I feel more
satisfaction in doing my duty as a brother than indulging my
appetite ; although I own I have no dislike to a glass of claret
when it does not come before me in a questionable shape — I
mean when I have not got to pay for it, which I cannot afford.
Now, do not let me take up any more of your time You have
plenty of acquaintances that you wish to see, I have no doubt ;
and as for my yarns, they will do to pass away a watch, when we
have nothing more attractive to divert us." So saying, he held

i68 FRANK MILDMAY.

out his hand, and shook mine most cordially, " To-morrow, at
nine o'clock/' he repeated; and I left him, much pleased with
my interview.

I went back to my inn, thinking what a very fortunate fellow
I was to have such an honest, straight -forward, bold British
hero of a captain, on my first appointment. I ordered my
dinner at the George, and then stroUed out to make my pur-
chases, and give my orders for a few articles for sea service. I
fell in with several old messmates ; they congratulated me on
my promotion, and declared I should give them a dinner to
wet my commission, to which I readily consented. The day
was named, and Mr. Billet was ordered to provide accord-
ingly.

Having dined soluSy I amused myself in writing a long letter
to my dear Emily; and with the assistance of a bottle of wine
succeeded in composing a tolerably warm and rapturous sort of
document, which I sealed, kissed, and sent to the post-ofhce ;
after which, I built castles till bed-time ; but not one castle did
I build in which Emily was not the sole mistress. I went to bed,
and slept soundly; and the next morning, by seven o'clock, I
was arrayed in a spick-span new uniform, with an immensely
large epaulette stuck on my right shoulder. Having breakfasted,
I sallied out, and, in my own conceit, was as handsome A chap as
ever buckled a sword-belt. I skimmed with a light and vigorous
foot down High Street.

"Boat, your honour?" said a dozen voices at once, as I
reached New Sallyport ; but I was resolved that Point Street
should have a look at me as well as High Street, so I kept a
profound and mysterious silence, and let the watermen follow
me to the Point, just like so many sucking fish after a shark. I
had two or three offers for volunteers to serve with me as I
went along ; but they were not of the right sex, so I did not
take them.

"Boat to Spithead, your honour?" said a tough old water-
man.

"Ay, you'll do," said I ; so I jumped into his wherry, and
we shoved off.

" What ship is your honour going to ? " said the man.

"To the/> brig."

"Oh, you are a-going to she, are you? To belong to her,
mayhap ? "

"Yes," I replied.

The waterman gave a sigh, feathered his oar, and never spoke
another word till we came alongside. I did not regret his
taciturnity, for I was always more amused with ray own thoughts
than in conversing with illiterate people.

FRANK MILDMAY, 169

The brig was a most beautiful vessel. She mounted eighteen
guns, and sat on the water like a duck. I perceived that the
pendant was up for punishment, and this I thought rather an
unusual sight at Spithead : I took it for granted that some
aggravated offence, such as theft, or mutiny, had been com-
mitted. Seeing I was an officer, I was admitted alongside ; so
I paid the waterman, and sent him away. As I went up the
side, I saw a poor fellow spread-eagled up to the grating,
"according to the manners and customs of the natives," while
the captains, officers, and ship's company stood round witnessing
the athletic dexterity of a boatswain's mate, who, by the even,
deep, and parallel marks of the cat on the white back and
shoulders of the patient, seemed to be perfectly master of his
business. All this did not surprise me — I was used to it ; but,
after the address of my captain on the preceding day, t was
very much surprised to hear language in direct violation of the
second article of war

Cursings and execrations poured out of his mouth with a
volubility equal to that of the most accomplished lady at the back
of the Point-

" Boatswain's mate," roared the captain, *' do your duty! or
by G — I will have you up, and give you four dozen yourself.
One would think, d — n your b — d, that you were brushing flies off
a sleeping Venus, instead of punishing a scoundrel with a hide as
thick as a buffalo's, and be d — d to him. Do your duty, sir, d — n
your soul."

During this elegant address, the unhappy wretch had received
four severe dozen, which the master-at-arms had counted aloud,
and reported to the captain. " Another boatswain's mate," said
he. The poor creature turned his head over his shoulders with
an imploring look, but it was in vain. I watched the counte-
nance of the captain, and the peculiar expression which I could
not decipher at my first interview I now read most plainly — it was
malignant cruelty, and delight in torturing his own species ; he
seemed to take a diabolical pleasure in the hateful operation which
we were compelled to witness. The second boatswain's mate
commenced, with a fresh cat, and gave a lash across the back of
the prisoner, that made me start.

*' One," said the master-at-arms, beginning to count.

"One!" roar'^d the captain, '^6,0 you call that one? not a
quarter of a one. -^ That fellow is only fit for fly-flapper at a pork
shop! I'll disrate you, by G — d, you d — d molly mop; is that
the way you handle a cat ? that's only wiping the dirt off his back.
Where's the boatswain ? "

" Here," said a stout, gigantic, left-handed fellow, stepping
forward, with a huge blue uniform coat and a plain anchor

170 FRANK MILDMAY.

button, holding- his hat in his left hand, and stroking his hair
down his forehead with his right. I surveyed this man, as he
turned himself about, and concluded that the tailor who worked
for him had been threatened with a specimen of his art, if he
stinted him in cloth ; for the skirts of his coat were ample, ter-
minating in an inclined plane, the corners in front being much
lower than the middle of the robe behind ; the buttons on the hips
were nearly pistol shot asunder,

''Give this man a dozen, sir,*' said Captain G ; ''and if

you favour him, I'll put you under arrest, and stop your liquor."

This last part of the threat had more effect with Mr. Pipes than
the first. He began to peel, as the boxers call it; off came his
capacious coat ; a red waistcoat — full-sized for a Smithfield ox —
was next deposited ; then he untied a black silk handkerchief, and
showed a throat, covered like that of a goat with long brown hairs,
thick as packthread. He next rolled up his shirt-sleeves above
his elbow, and showed an arm and a back very like the Farnese
Hercules, which no doubt all my readers have seen at the foot of

the staircase at Somerset House, when they had been to the
exhibition.

This hopeful commentator on articles of war seized his cat : the
handle was two feet long, one inch and three quarters thick ; and
covered with red baize. The tails of this terrific weapon
were three feet long, nine in number, and each of them about
the size of that line which covers the springs of a travelling
carriage. Mr. Pipes, whose scientific display in this part of art
had no doubt procured for him the warrant of a boatswain, in virtue
of which he now stood as the vindicator of the laws of his country,
handled his cat like an adept, looked at it from top to bottom,
cleared all the tails by the insertion of his delicate fingers, and
combing them out, stretched out his left leg — for he was left-
legged as well as left-handed — and measuring his distance with
the accurate eye of an engineer, raised his cat high in the air
with his left hand, his right still holding the tips of the tails, as if
to restrain their impatience ; when, giving his arm and body a full
swing, embracing three-fourths of the circle, he inflicted a tre-
mendous stroke on the back of the unfortunate culprit. This
specimen seemed to satisfy the amateur captain, who nodded
approbation to the inquiring look of the amateur boatswain. The
poor man lost his respiration from the force of the blow; and the
tails of the cat coming from an opposite direction to the first
four dozen, cut the flesh diamond-wise, bringing the blood at every
blow.

I will not wound the feelings of my readers wiih a description
of the poor wretch's situation. Even at this distance of time, I
am shocked at itj and bitterly lament the painful necessity I

FRANK MILDMAY. 171

have often been under of inflicting similar punishment ; but I hope
and trust I never did it without a cause, or in the wanton display
of arbitrary power.

The last dozen being; finished, the sum-total was reported by the
master-at-arms, "Five dozen."

" Five dozen ! " repeated Captain G ; '* that, will do— •

cast him off. And now, sir/* said he to the fainting wretch, "I
hope this will be a warning to you, that the next time you wish
to empty your beastly mouth, you will not spit on my quarter-
deck,"

"Heavens!" thought I, *' is all this for spitting on the
quarter-deck ? And this from the moralist of yesterday, who
allowed neither oaths nor execrations, and has uttered more
blasphemy in the last ten minutes than I have heard for the last
ten weeks ! "

1 had not yet caught the captain's eye — he was too intent on
his amusement. As soon as the prisoner was cast loose, he
commanded to pipe down, or in other words, to dismiss the
people to their usual occupations, when I went up to him, and
touched my hat.

"Oh I you are come, are you ? Pipe belay there — send every-
body aft on the quarter-deck."

My coihmission was then read — all hats off in respect to the
sovereign, from whom the authority was derived. After this, I,
being duly inaugurated, became the second lieutenant of the
sloop; and the captain, without condescending to give me
another word or look, ordered his gig to be manned, and was
going on shore. I was not presented by him to any of the
officers, which in common courtesy he ought to have done.
This omission, however, was supplied by the first lieutenant, who
invited me down into the gun-room, to introduce me to my new
messmates. We left the tiger pacing up and down on his quarter-
deck.

The first lieutenant was of th^ medium stature, a suitable
height for a sloop of war, a spare figure, of about forty years
of age ; he had but one ej'e, and that eye was as odd a one as
the captain's. There was in it, however, unlike the captain's, an
infinite deal of humour, and when he cocked it, as he constantly
did, it almost spoke. I never saw three such eyes in two such
heads. There was a lurking smile in the lieutenant's face, when
I told him that the captain had desired me to come on board and
read my commission, after which I might have two or three days
to myself to prepare for sea.

" Well," said he, " you had better go and ask him now f but
you will find him a rum one,"

172 FRANK MILDMAY.

Accordingly, up I went to him. " Have you any objection to

my going on shore sir ? ' '

''Shore, sir! '* bellowed he; *' and who the devil is to carry
on the duty, if you go on shore ? Shore, eh ? I wish there was
no shore, and then, d — n the dog that couldn't swim ! No, sir;
you have had shore enough. The service is going to h — 1, sir !
A parcel of brats, with lieutenant's commissions before they
should have been clear of the nursery ! No, sir ; stay on board,
or d — n me, I'll break you like an egg-shell, before you have
taken a shine out of that fine new epaulette ! No, no, by G — ^d ;
no more cats here than catch mice. You stay on board, and do

your duty ; every man does his duty here ; and let me see the

that don't do it! "

I was in some measure prepared for this sublime harangue ;
but still there was sufficient room in my mind to admit of great
astonishment at this sudden change of wind. I replied that he
had promised me leave yesterday, and that, upon the strength
of that promise, I had left all my things on shore, and that I was
not in any way prepared to go to sea.

" I promised you leave, did I ? Perhaps I did ; but that was
only to get you on board. I am up to your tricks, you d— d
young chaps : when you get on shore, there is no getting you
off again. No, no; no catchee no havee ! You would not
have made your appearance these three days, if I hadn't
sugared the trap I Now I have got you, 1*11 keep you, d — n
my eyes 1 "

. I repeated my request to go on shore ; but, without condes-
cending to offer any further reasons, he answered —

'* I'd see you d — d first, sir! And observe, I never admit of
expostulation. Nothing affords me more pleasure than to
oblige my officers in everything reasonable ; but I never permit
reply."

Thought I to myself, " You certainly have escaped from hell,
and I do not see how the infernal regions can do without you.
You would have been one of the most ingenious tormentors of
the damned. Domitian would have made you admiral, and your
boatswain captain of the fleet!"

Having made this reflection, as I took a turn or two on deck,
thinking what was best to be done, and knowing that " the king
could do no w^ong," the officer whom I had just superseded
came up the hatchway, and, touching his hat very respectfully
to the captain, asked whether he might go on shore.

*'You may go to hell, and be d — d, sir!" said the captain
(who hated bad language) ; "you are not fit to carry guts to a
bear ! — you are not worth your salt; and the sooner you are off,

FRANK MILDMAY. 173

the cleaner the ship will be ! Don't stand staring at me, like a
bull over a gate ! Down, and pack up your traps, or I'll freshen
your way ! " raising his foot at the same time, as if he was going
to kick him.

The young officer, who was a mild, gentlemanly, and
courageous youth, did as he was bidden. I was perfectly
astonished; I had been accustomed to sail with gentlemen. I
had heard of martinets, and disciplinarians, and foul-mouthed
captains; but this outdid all I ever could have conceived, and
much more than I thought ever could have been submitted to by
any correct ofiBcer. Roased to indignation, and determined not
to be treated in this manner, I again walked up to him, and
requested leave to go on shore.

'*You have had your answer, sir!"

**Yes, I have, sir," said I, "and in language that I never
before heard on His Majesty's quarter-deck. I joined this ship
as an officer and a gentleman, and as such I will be treated.*'

" Mutiny, by G — d ! " roared the captain. *' Cock-a-hoop with
your new commission, before the ink is dry."

" As you please, sir," I replied ; " but I shall write a letter to
the port-admiral, stating the circumstances and requesting
leave of absence ; and that letter I shall trouble you to for-
ward."

''I'llbed— difldo!" said he.

" Then, sir," said I, " as you have refused to forward it, and in
the presence of all the officers in the ship's company, I shall
forward it without troubling you."

This last shot of mine seemed to produce the same effect upon
him that the last round does upon a beaten boxer ; he did not
come to time, but, muttering something, dived down the
companion, and went into his cabin.

The first lieutenant now came up, and congratulated me on
my victory. "You have puzzled and muzzled the bear com-
pletely," said he ; "I have long wanted a coadjutor like yourself.
Wilson, who is going to leave us, is the best creature that ever
lived : but though brave as a lion before an enemy, he is cowed
by this incarnate devil."

Our conversation was interrupted by a message from the
captain, who desired to speak with me in his cabin. I went
down; he received me with the benignant smile of our first
acquaintance.

"Mr, Mildmay," said he, "I always assume a little tartness
with my officers when they first join " {" and when they quit you
too," thought I), " not only to prove to them that I am, and will
be, the captain of my own ship, but also as an example to the
men, who, when they see what the officers are forced to put up

i74 FRANK MILDMAY.

with, feel themselves more contented with their lot, and obey
more readily ; but, as I told you before, the comfort of my officers
is my constant study — you are welcome to go ashore, and have
twenty-four hours' leave to collect your necessaries."

To this harangue I made no reply ; but, touching my hat,
quitted the cabin I felt so much contempt for the man that I
was afraid to speak, lest I should commit myself.

The captain shortly after quitted the ship, telling the first
lieutenant that I had permission to go on shore. I was now left
at liberty to make acquaintance with my companions in misery
■ — and nothing conduces to intimacy so much as community of
suffering. My resistance to the brutality of our common task-
master had pleased thern ; they told me what a tyrant and what
a disgrace to the service he was, and how shameful it was that
he should be intrusted with the command of so fine a vessel, or of
any vessel at all, except it were a convict ship. The stories
they told me of him were almost incredible, and nothing but
the too-well-founded idea that an officer trying his captain by a
court-martial had a black mark against him for ever after, and
was never known to rise, could have saved this man from the
punishment he so richly deserved : no officer, they said, had been
more than three weeks in the ship, and they were all making
interest to leave her.

In my report of what occurred in this vessel during the time I
belonged to her, I must, in justice to the captains and com-
manders of His Majesty's navy, observe, that the case was

unique of its kind : such a character as Captain G was rarely

met with in the navy then, and, for reasons which I shall give,
will be still more rare in future. The first lieutenant told me
that I had acted very judiciously in resisting at first his undue
exertion of authority ; that he was at once a tyrant, a bully, and
a coward, and would be careful how he attacked me again.
"But be on your guard," said he, "he will never forgive you ;
and when he is most agreeable there is the most mischief to be
dreaded. He will lull you into security, and whenever he can
catch y&x* tripping, he will try you by a court-martial. You had
better go on shore, and settle all your business, and, if possible,
be on board before your leave is out. It is only your threat of
writing to the port-admiral that procured you leave of absence.
You have nothing to thank him for: he would have kept you on
board if he dared. I have never quitted the ship since I joined
her; and never has a day passed without a scene similar to what
you have this morning witnessed. And yet," continued he, " if
it were not for his cruelty to the men, he is the most amusing liar
I ever heard. I am often more inclined to laugh than to be
angry with him ; he has a vein of wit and rich humour that runs

&RANK MILDMAV. i?5

through his composition and never quits him. There is drollery
even in his malice, and, if we cannot get clear of him, we must
take the best of him.*'

I went on shore, collected all my clothes and the other articles
of which I stood in need, and was on board my ship again the
next morning before eight o'clock.

CHAPTER XVII.

He wiU lie sir, with such volubiUty, that you would think truth were a
fool : drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will be swine-drunk, and in his
sleep he does little harm. Shakspeare.

When Captain G made his appearance, he seemed to be in

the most amiable humour possible. As soon as he saw me, he said,
"Ah, this is what I like; never break your leave even for five
minutes. Now that I see I can trust you, you may go on shore
again as soon as you please."

This speech might have done very well to any person before
the mast ; but as applied to an officer, I thought it rude and
ungentlemanly.

The caterer had prepared lunch in the gun-room : it con-
sisted of beef-steaks and broiled bullocks' kidneys, with fried
onions ; and their savoury smell rose in grateful steams up the
sky-light, and assailed the nostrils of the skipper. His facetious
small-talk knew no bounds ; he leaned over the frame, and looking

down, said, —

" 1 say, something devilish good going on there below I '*

The hint was taken, and the first lieutenant invited him

down.

" I don't care if I do ; I am rather peckish."

So saying, he was down the hatchway in the twinkling of one of
his own funny eyes, as he feared the choice bits would be gone
before he could get into action. We all followed him ; and as he
seated himself, he said,—

"I trust, gentlemen, this is not the last time I ^hall sit in
the gun-room, and that you will all consider my cabin as your
own. I love to make my officers comfortable: nothing more
delightful than an harmonious ship, when every man and boy
is Willing to go to h — 1 for his officers. That's what I call good
feilowship— give and take — make proper allowances for one
another's failings, and we shall be sorry when the time comes
for us to part. I am afraid, however, that I shall not be long
with you ; for though I doat upon the brig, the Duke of N

1^6 FRANK MILDMAV.

and Lord George have given the first Lord a d — d whigging

for not promoting me sooner; and between ourselves — I don't
wish it to go further — my post commission goes out with me to
Barbadoes.'*

The first lieutenant cocked his eye ; and quick as were the
motions of that eye, the captain, with a twist of one of his own,
caught a glimpse of it, before it could be returned to its bearing on
the central object, the beefsteaks, kidneys, and onions. But it
passed off without a remark.

*' A very capital steak this ! 1*11 trouble you for some fat and
a little gravy. We*ll have some jollification when we get to
sea ; but we must get into blue water first ; then we shall have
less to do. Talking of broiling steaks — when I was in Egypt
we used to broil our beef-steaks on the rocks — no occasion
for fire — thermometer at 200 — hot as h — 1 ! I have seen four
thousand men at a time cooking for the whole army as much as
twenty or thirty thousand pounds of steak at a time, all hissing
and frying at once — just about noon, of course, you know —
not a spark of fire ! Some of the soldiers, who had been
brought up as glass-blowers at Leith, swore they never saw such
heat. I used to go to leeward of them for a whiff, and think
of old England! Ah, that's the country, after all, where a man
may think and say what he pleases ! But that sort of work did
not last long, as you may suppose ; their eyes were all fried out,
d — n me, in three or four weeks ! I had been ill in my bed,
for I was attached to the 72nd regiment, seventeen hundred
strong — I had a party of seamen with me ; but the ophthalmia
made such ravages, that the whole regiment, colonel and all,
went stone blind — all except one corporal ! You may stare,
gentlemen, but it's very true. Well, this corporal had a precious
time of it: he was obliged to lead out the whole regiment to
water — he led the way, and two or three took hold of the skirts of
his jacket, on each side; the skirts of these were seized again by
as many more, and double the number to the last, and so all
held on by one another, till they had all had a drink at the well ;
and, as the devil would have it, there was but one well among us
all — so this corporal used to water the regiment just as a groom
waters his horses; and all spreading out you know, just like the

tail of a peacock."

"Of which the corporal was the rump/' interrupted the

doctor.

The captain looked grave.

** You found it warm in that country?*' inquired the surgeon.

"Warm!" exclaimed the captain; "I'll tell you what,
doctor, when you go where you have sent many a patient—
and where, for that very reason, you certainly will go — I only

FRANK MILDMAY. 177

hope, for your sake, and for that of your profession in general,
that you will not find it quite so hot as we found it in Egypt,
What do you think of nineteen of my men being killed by the
concentrated rays of light falling on the barrels of the sentinels
bright muskets, and setting fire to the powder ? I commanded
a mortar battery at Acre, and I did the French infernal mis-
chief with the shells I used to pitch in among them when
they had sat down to dinner : but how do you think the
scoundrels weathered on me at last ? D — n me, they trained
a parcel of poodle dogs to watch the shells when they fell, and
then to run and pull the fuses out with their teeth. Did you
ever hear of such d — d villains ? By this means, they saved
hundreds of men, and only lost half a dozen dogs — fact, by
G — ; only ask Sir Sydney Smith ; he'll tell you the same, and a
d — d sight more."

The volubility of his tongue was only equalled by the rapidity of
his invention and his powers of mastication ; for, during the whole
of this entertaining monodrame, his teeth were in constant motion,
like the traversing beam of a steamboat ; and as he was our
= captain as well as our guest, he certainly took the lion*s share of
the repast,

*' But, I say. Soundings,'* said he, addressing himself
familiarly to the master, who had not been long in the vessel,
"let us see what sort of stuff you have stowed the forehoM
with. You know I am a water-drinker ; give me only the pure
limpid stream, and a child may lead me. I seldom touch
liquor when the water is good," So saying, he poured out a
tumbler, and held it to his nose. "Stinks like h — •! I say,
master, are you sure the bungs are in your casks ? The cats
have been contributing to the fluid. We must qualify this; "
and having poured away one half of the water, which, by the
by, was very good, he supplied the vacancy with rum. Then
tasting it, he said, "Come, miss puss, this will rouse you out, at
any rate."

A momeni s pause, while he held the bumper before his eye, and
then down it went, producing no other emotion than a deep sigh,
" By the bye, that's well thought of — we'll have no cats in the ship
(except those which the depravity of human nature unhappily
compels the boatswain to use). Mr. Skysail, you'll look to that.
Throw them all overboard."

Taking his hat, he rose from the table, and mounting the
ladder, ' ' On second thought, ' ' said he, addressing Skysail
again, "I won't throw the cats overboard; the sailors have a
foolish superstition about that animal — its d — d unlucky. No !
put them alive in a bread-bag, and send them on shore in the
bum-boat."

178 FRANK MILDMAY.

Recollecting- that my dinner-party at the George was to
take place this day, and remembering" the captain's promise
that I should go on shore whenever I pleased, I thouq^ht it only
necessary to say I was going — merely passing the usual com-
pliment to my superior. I therefore went to him, with a
modest assurance, and told him of my engagement and my
intention.

*' Upon my honour, sir/' cried he, putting his arms akimbo,
and staring me full in the face; **you have a tolerable sea-
stock of modest assurance ; no sooner come on board than
you ask leave to go on shore again, and at the same time you
have the impudencffe to tell me, knowing how much I abhor
the vice, that you mean to wet your commission, and of course
to get beastly drunk, and to make others as bad as yourself.
No, sir; Pd have you to know, that as captain of this ship, and
as long as I have the honour to command her, I am ma^ister
morum.''

" That is precisely what I was coming to, sir," said I, ''when
you interrupted me. Knowing how difficult it is to keep young
men in order, without the presence of some one whom they-
respect, and can look up to as an example, I was going to request
the honour of your company as my guest. Nothing, in my
opinion, could so effectually repress any tendency to improper
indulgence."

" There you speak like a child of my own bringing up," replied

Captain G : " I did not give you credit for so much good sense .

I am far from throwing a wet blanket over any innocent mirth.
Man is man after all — give him but the bare necessaries of life,
and he is no more than a dog. A little mirth on such an occasion
is not only justifiable, but praiseworthy. The health of a good
king like ours, God bless him ! should always be drunk in good
wine ; and as you say the party is to be select, and the occasion
the wetting of your commission, I shall have no objection to come
and give away the bride ; but, remember, no hard drinking — no
indecorum — and Fll do my best, not only to keep the young bloods
in order, but to add my humble powers to the hilarity of the
evening."

I thanked him for his kind condescension. He then gave a few
directions to Skysail, the first lieutenant, and ordering his gig
to be manned, offered me a passage on shore.

This was, indeed, a mark of favour never before conferred
on any officer in the ship, and all hands spontaneously turned
out to see the sight. The first lieutenant cocked his eye, which
was more than saying, "This is too good to last long." How-
ever, into the boat we went, and pulled away for old Sallyport,

ii
it

FRANK MILDMAY. 179

The harbour tide rolling out, we passed close to the buoy of the

Boyne.

"Ah! well I remember that old ship; I was midshipman of
her when she blew up. I was signal midshipman. I was in
the act of making the signal of distress, when up I went.
Damnation ! I thought 1 never should have come down any

more."

" Indeed, sir! " said I, '* I thought there had been no one on

board at the time."

" No one on board! " repeated the captain, with scorn on his
upper lip, *' who did you get that from ? '*

I heard it from a captain I served with in America."
Then you may tell your captain, with my compliments,
that he knew nothing at all about it. No one on board ! Why,
d — n me, sir, the poop was crowded like a sheepfold, and all
bellowing to me for help. I told them all to go to h — , and
just at that moment away we all went^ sure enough, I was
picked up senseless, I was told somewhere in Stokes Bay, and
carried to Haslar Hospital, where I was given over for three
months — never spoke. At last I got well ; and the first thing I
did was to take a boat and go and dive down the forehold of
my old ship, and swim aft to the bread-room."

" And what did you see sir ? " said I.

** Oh, nothing, except lots of human skeletons, and whitings
in abundance, swimming between their ribs. I brought up my
old quadrant out of the starboard wing, where I was adjusting
it when the alarm was given. I found it lying on the table just
where I left it. I never shall forget what a d — d rap we hit the
old Queen Charlotte^ with our larboard broadside ; every gun
went slap into her, double-shotted. D — n my eyes, I suppose
we diddled at least a hundred men."

''Why, sir," said I, "I always understood she only lost two
men on that occasion."

"Who told you that?" said Captain G ; "your old

captain ? ' *

" Yes, sir," said I, '* he was a midshipman in her."

" He be d — d," said my skipper; "to my certain knowledge,
three launch-loads of dead bodies were taken out of her, and
carried to the hospital for interment."

As the boat touched the landing-place this accomplished
liar had time to take breath ; and in fact I was afraid he would
have exhausted his stock of lies before dinner, and kept nothing
for the dessert. When we landed, he went to his old quarters
at the Star and Garter, and I to the George. I reminded him at
parting that six o'clock was my hour.

"J^ ever fear me/' said he.

i8o FRANK MILDMAY.

I collected my company previous to his arrival, and told my
friends that it was my determination to make him drunk, and
that they must assist me, which they promised to do. Having-
once placed him in that predicament, I was quite sure I should
stop his future discourses in favour of temperance. My com-
panions, perfectly aware of the sort of man they had to deal
with, treated him on his entrance with the most flattering
marks of respect, I introduced them all to him in the most
formal manner, taking them to him, one by one, just as we
are presented at court — to compare great things with small.
His good-humour was at its highest spring tide ; the honour
of drinking wine with him was separately and respectfully
asked, and most condescendingly granted to every person at

the table.

*' Capital salmon this/' said the captain ; ''where does Billet
get it from ? By the bye, talking of that, did you ever hear of the
pickled salmon in Scotland ? *'

We all replied in the affirmative.

** Oh, you don't take. D— n it, I don't mean dead pickled
salmon ; I mean live pickled salmon, swimming about in tanks,
as merry as grigs, and as hungry as rats."

We all expressed our astonishment at this, and declared we
never heard of it before.

" I thought not," said he, **for it has only lately been in-
troduced into this country, by a particular friend of mine, Dr.

Mac I cannot just now remember his d— d jaw-breaking

Scotch name ; he was a great chymist and geologist, and all
that sort of thing — a clever fellow, I can tell you, though you
may laugh. Well, this fellow, sir, took nature by the heels
and capsized her, as we say. I have a strong idea that he had
sold himself to the devil. Well, what does he do, but he
catches salmon and puts them into tanks, and every day added
more and more salt, till the water was as thick as gruel, and
the fish could hardly wag their tails in it. Then he threw in
whole peppercorns, half a dozen pounds at a time, till there
was enough. Then he began to dilute with vinegar, until his
pickle was complete. The fish did not half like it at first; but
habit is everything, and when he showed me his tank, they
were swimming about as merry as a shoal of dace ; he fed them
with fennel, chopped small, and black peppercorns. * Come,
doctor,' says I, ' I trust no man upon tick ; if I don't taste, I
won't believe my own eyes, though I can believe my tongue.^ "
(We looked at each other.) " 'That you shall do m a minute,'
says he ; so he whipped one of them out with a landing-net ;
and when I stuck my knife into him, the pickle ran out of his
body like wine out of a claret bottle, and I ate at least two

FRANK MILDMAY. i8i

pounds of the rascal, while he flapped his tail in my face. I
never tasted such salmon 33 that. Worth your while to go to
Scotland, if its only for the sake of eating, live pickled salmon.
I'll give you a letter, any of you, to my friend. He'll be d — d
glad to see you ; and then you may convince yourselves. Take
my word for it, if once you eat salmon that way, you will never
eat it any other."

We all said we thought that very likely.

The champagne corks flew as fast and as loud as his shells at
Acre ; but we were particularly reserved, depending entirely on
his tongue for our amusement ; and, finding the breeze of con-
versation beginning to freshen, I artfully turned the subject to
Egypt, by asking one of my friends to demolish a pyramid of
jelly, which stood before him, and to send some of it to the
captain.

This was enough : he began with Egypt, and went on in-
creasing in the number and magnitude of his lies, in proportion
as we applauded them. A short-hand writer ought to have
been there, for no human memory could do justice to this
modern Munchausen. "Talking of the water of the Nile," said
he, " I remember when I was first lieutenant of the Bellero;phon,
I went into Minorca with only six tons of water, and in four
hours we had three hundred and fifty tons on board, all stowed
away. I made all hands work. The admiral himself was up to
the neck in water, with the rest of them. * D — n it, admiral,' says
I, * no skulking.' Well, we sailed the next day ; and such a
gale of wind I never saw in all my life — away went all our
masts, and we had nearly been swamped with the weather-roll
One of the boats was blown off the booms, and went clean out
of sight before it touched the water. You may laugh at that,
but that was nothing to the Swallow sloop of war. She was in
company with us ; she wanted to scud for it, but by Jupiter,
she was blown two miles up the country — guns, men, and all;
and the next morning they found her flying jibboom had gone
through the church window, and slap into the cheek of the pic-
ture of the Virgin Mary. The natives all swore it was done on
purpose by d — d heretics, The captain was forced to arm his
men, and march them all down to the beach, giving the ship up
to the people, who were so exasperated that they set her on
fire, and never thought of the powder which was on board. All
the priests were in their robes, singing some stuff or another, to
purify the church ; but that was so much time thrown away, for
in one moment away went church, priests, pictures, and people,
all to the devil together."

Here he indulged himself in some vile language and scurrilous
abuse of religion and its ministers. All priests were hypocritical

i82 FRANK MILDMAY.

scoundrels. If he was to be of any religion at all, he said, he
should prefer being a Roman Catholic, *' because, then, you
know," added he, "a. man may sin as much as he likes, and rub
off as he goes for a few shillings. I got my commission by
religion, d — n me, I found my old admiral was a psalm-singer ;
so, says I, * my old boy, I'll give you enough of that ; ' so I
made the boatswain stuff me a hassock, and this I carried with
me everywhere, that I might save my trousers and not hurt my
knees ; so then I turned to and prayed all day long, and kept
the people awake singing psalms all night. I knelt down and
prayed on the quarter deck, main deck, and lower deck. I
preached to the men in the tiers when they coiled the cables,
and groaned loud and deep when I heard an oath. The thing
took — 'the admiral said I was the right sort, and he made a
commander out of the greatest atheist in the ship. 'No sooner
did I get hold of the sheepskin, than to the devil I pitched
hassock and Bible."

How long he might have gone on with this farrago, it is
difficult to say ; but we were getting tired of him, so we passed
the bottle till he left off narrative, and took to friendship.

" Now I say (hiccup), you Frank, you are a devilish good
fellow ; but that one-eyed son of a gun, I'll try him by a court-
martial, the first time I catch him drunk ; I'll hang him at the
yard-arm, and you shall be my first lieutenant and custos-rot-
torum, d — n me. Only you come and tell me the first time he
is disguised in liquor, and I'll settle him, d — n his cock eye — a

saucy, Polyphemus-looking son of a (hiccup) a Whitechapel

bird-catcher."

Here his recollection failed him ; he began to talk to himself,
and to confound me with the first lieutenant.

'' I'll teach him to write to port admirals for leave — son of a
sea cook."

He was now drawing to the finale, and began to sing, —

" The cook of the huffy got drunk,
Fell down the fore-scuttle, and
Broke his gin bottle."

Here his head fell back, he tumbled off his chair, and lay
motionless on the carpet.

Having previously determined not to let him be exposed in the
streets in that state, I had provided a bed for him at the inn ; and
ringing the bell, I ordered the waiter to carry him to it. Having
seen him safely deposited, untied his neckcloth, took off his boots,
and raised his head a little, we left him, and returned to the table,
where we finished our evening in great comfort, but without any
other instance of intoxication.

FRANK MILDMAY. 183

The next morning, I waited on him. He seemed much annoyed
at seeing me, supposing I meant, by my presence, to rebuke Jhim
for his intemperance ; but this was not my intention. I asked him
how he felt ; and I regretted that the hilarity of the evening had
been interrupted in so unfortunate a manner.

'* How do you mean, sir ? Do you mean to insinuate that I
was not sober ? "

" By no means, sir," said I ; "but are you aware, that in the
midst of your delightful and entertaining conversation, you
tumbled off your chair in an epileptic fit? — are you subject to

these ? "

"Oh, yes, my dear fellow, indeed I am; but it is so long
since I last had one, that I was in hopes they had left me. I
have invalided for them four times, and just at the very periods
when, if I could have remained out, my promotion was certain."

He then told me I might remain on shore that day, if I
pleased. I gave him credit for his happy instinct in taking the
hint of the fit; and as soon as I left him, he arose, went on
board, and flogged two men for being drunk the night before.

I did not fail to report all that had passed to my messmates,
and we sailed a few days afterwards for Barbadoes. On the first
Sunday of our being at sea, the captain dined in the gun-room
with the officers. He soon launched out into his usual strain of
lying and boasting, which always irritated our doctor, who was
a sensible young Welshman. On these occasions he neverfailed
to raise a laugh at the captain's expense, by throwing in one or
two words at the end of each anecdote ; and this he did in so
grave and modest a manner, that without a previous knowledge
of him, any one might have supposed he was serious . The captain
renewed his story of the corps of poodles to extract the fuses from
the shells. " I hoped," he said, *' to see the institution of such
a corps among ourselves ; and if I were to be the colonel of it, I
should soon have a star on my breast."

*'That would be the dog star," said the doctor, with extreme

gaiety.

*' Thank you, doctor," said the captain; "not bad; I owe

you one."

We laughed ; the doctor kept his countenance ; and the

captain looked very grave ; but he continued his lies, and
dragged in as usual the name of Sir Sydney Smith to support
his assertions, " If youdoubt me, only ask Sir Sydney Smith ;
he*ll talk to you about Acre for thirty-six hours on a stretch,
without taking breath ; his coxswain at last got so tired of it, that
he nick-named him 'Long Acre.' "

The poor doctor did not come off scot free ; the next day, he
discovered that the deck leaked over his cabin, ^nd the water

i84 FRANK MILDMAY.

ran into his bed. He began, with a hammer and some nails,
to fasten up a piece of painted canvas, by way of shelter. The
captain heard the noise of the hammer, and finding it was the
doctor, desired him to desist. The doctor repUed, that he was
only endeavouring to stop some leaks over his bed : the captain
said they should not be stopped ; for that a bed of leeks was a
very good bed for a Welshman.

"There, doctor: now we are quits: that's for your dog star.
I suppose you think nobody can make a pun or a pill, in the ship,
but yourself? "

"If my pills were no better than your puns," muttered the
doctor, " we should all be in a bad way."

The captain then directed the carpenter not to allow any nails
to the doctor, or the use of any of his tools ; he even told the poor
surgeon that he did not know how to make a pill,, and that " he
was as useless as the Navy Board." He accused him of ignorance
in other parts of his profession ; and, ordering all the sick men
on deck, rope-ended them to increase their circulation, and put a

little life into them.

Many a poor sick creature have I seen receive a most un-
merciful beating. My wonder was that the men did not throw
him overboard ; and I do really believe that if it had not been for
respect and love to the officers, they would have done so. No
sooner had we got into blue water, as he called it — that is out of
soundings — than he began his pranks, which never ceased till we
reached Carlisle Bay, Officers and men were all treated alike,
and there was no redress, for no one among us dared to bring him
to a court-martial. His constant maxim was — " Keep sailors at
work, and you keep the devil out of their minds — all hands all day-
watch, and watch all night."

"No man," said Tacky (the name we gave himj " eats the bread
of idleness on board of my ship : work keeps the scurfy out of
their bones, the lazy rascals."

The officers and men, for the first three weeks, never had a
watch below during the day. They were harassed and worn to
death, and the most mutinous and discontented spirit prevailed
throughout the ship. One of the best seamen said, in the
captain's hearing, that, " since the ship had been at sea, he had
only had three watches below."

" And if I had known it," said the captain, " you should not

have had that; " and turning the hands up, he gave him four

dozen.
Whenever he flogged the men, which he was constantly doing,

be never failed to upbraid them with ingratitude, and the indul-
gences which they received from him.

" By G — d, there is no man-of-war in the service that has so

FRANK MILDMAY. 185

tnhch indulgence. All you have to do, is to keep the ship clean,
square the yards, hoist in your provisions, eat them, hoist your
grog in, drink it, and strike the empty casks over the side ; but
heaven itself would not please such a set of d — d fat, discon-
tented rascals,"

His language to the officers was beyond anything I ever could
have supposed would have proceeded from the mouth of a
human being. The master, one day, incurred his displeasure,
and he very flippantly told the poor man to go to h — .

" I hope, sir," said the master, *' I have as good a chance of
going to heaven as yourself."

" You go to heaven ! " said the captain, " you go to heaven !
Let me catch you there, and I will come and kick you
out."

This was, indeed, showing how far he would have carried his
tyranny if he could. But our feelings are relieved from any
violent shock at this apparent blasphemy, when we recollect
that the poor man was an atheist ; and that his idea of heaven
was that of a little parlour at the Star and Garter, with a good
fire, plenty of grog, and pipes of tobacco.

He kept no table, nor did he ever drink any wine except
when he dined with us ; but got drunk every night, more or
less, on the ship's spirits, in hife own cabin. He was always
most violent in the evening. Our only revenge was laughing
at his monstrous lies on Sunday, when he dined with us. One
night, his servant came and told the midshipman of the watch,
that the captain was lying dead drunk on the deck, in his cabin.
This was communicated to me, and I determined to make the
best use of it. I ran down to the cabin, taking with me the
midshipman of the watch, the quarter-master, and two other
steady men ; and having laid the water-drinker in his bed, I
noted down the date, with all the particulars, together with the
names of the witnesses, to be used as soon as we fell in with the
admiral.

The next day, I think he had some suspicion of what 1 had
done, and it had nearly been fatal to me. It was blowing a
fresh trade wind, and the vessel rolling very deep, when Ue
ordered the booms to be cast loose and re-stowed. This was
nothing short of murder and madness ; but, in spite of every
remonstrance, he persisted, and the consequences were terrible.
The lashings were no sooner cast off, than a spare top-mast
fell and killed one of the men. This was enough to have com-
pleted our mischief for the day ; but the devil had not done
with us yet The booms were secured, and the men were
ordered to rattle the rigging down, which, as the vessel continued
to roll heavily, was still more dangerous, and, if possible, more

i86 FRANK MILDMAV.

useless than the former operation. He was warned of it, but in
vain ; and the men had not been aloft more than ten minutes,
when one of them fell overboard . Why I should again have put my life
in jeopardy, particularly after the warning- of the last voyage, I
know not. I was perhaps vain of what I could do in the water. I
knew my powers ; and in the hope of saving this unfortunate
victim to the folly and cruelty of the captain, I plunged after him
into the sea, feeling, at the same time, that I was almost commit-
ting an act of suicide. I caught hold of him, and for a time
supported him ; and, had the commonest diligence and seaman-
ship been shown, I should have saved him. But the captain, it
appeared, when he found I was overboard, was resolved to get rid
of me, in order to save himself: he made use of every difficulty to
prevent the boat coming to me. The poor man was exhausted : I
kept myself disengaged from him, when swimming round him;
supported him occasionally whenever he was sinking ; but, finding
at last that he was irrecoverably gone — for though I had a firm
hold of him, he was going lower and lower — and, looking up, per-
ceiving I was so deep that the water was dark over my head, I
clapped my knees on his shoulders, and, giving myself a little
impetus from the resistance, rose to the surface. So much was I
exhausted, that I could not have floated half a minute more, when
the boat came and picked me up.

The delay in heaving the ship to, I attributed to the scene I had
witnessed the night before ; and in this I was confirmed by the
testimony of the officers. Having lost two men by his unseaman-
like conduct, he would have added the deliberate murder of a
third, to save himself from the punishment which he knew awaited
him. He continued the same tyrannical conduct, and I had
resolved, the moment we fell in with the admiral, to write for a
court-martial on this man, let the consequences be what they
might ; I thought I should serve my country and the navy by
ridding it of such a monster.

Several of the officers were under arrest, and notwithstanding
the heat of their cabins in that warm climate, were kept constantly
confined to them with a sentinel at the door. In consequence of
this cruel treatment, one of the officers became deranged. We
made Barbadoes, and running round Needham's Point into Car-
lisle Bay, we saw to our mortification that neither the admiral nor
any ship of war was there, consequently our captain was com-
manding officer in the' port. Upon this, he became remarkably
amiable, supposing, if the evil day was put off, it would be dis-
pensed with altogether ; he treated me with particular attention;
hoped we should have some fun ashore ; as the admiral was not
come in, we should wait for him ; tired of kicking about at sea,
he should take all his dtids with him, and bring himself to an

Prank mildmaV. 187

Anchor on shore, and not come afloat again till we saluted his flag.

Neither the first lieutenant nor myself believed one word of this;
indeed, we always acted upon the exact reverse of what" he said ;
and it was well we did so in this instance. After we had anchored,
he went ashore, and in about an hour returned, and stated that
the admiral was not expected till next month ; that he should,
therefore, go and take up his quarters at Jemmy Cavan's, and
not trouble the ship any more until the admiral arrived ; he then
left us, taking his trunk and all his dirty linen — dirty enough
it was.

Some of the officers unfortunately believed that we were to
remain, and followed the captain's example, by sending their
linen on shore to be washed. Skysail was firm, and so was I ;
the lieutenant cocked his eye, and said, ** Messmatfe, depend on
it there is something in the wind, I have sent one shirt on shore
to be washed ; and when that comes off, I will send another ; if I
lose that, it is no great matter."

That night, at ten o'clock. Captain Jacky came on board,
bringing his trunk and dirty linen, turned the hands up, up
anchor, and ran out of Carlisle Bay and went to sea, leaving
most of the officers' linen on shore. This was one of his tricks.
He had received his orders when he landed in the morning ;
they were waiting for him, and his coming on board for his
things was only a ruse to throw us off our guard, and I suppose
compel us, by the loss of our clothes, to be as dirty in appearance
as he was himself; "but he always liked to make his officers
comfortable."

We arrived at Nassau, in New Providence, without any remark-
able incident, although the service continued to be carried on in
the same disagreeable manner as ever. I continued, however, to
get leave to go on shore ; and finding no prospect of bringing the
captain to justice, determined to quit the ship if possible. This
was effected by accident, otherwise I should have been much
puzzled to have got clear of her. I fell between the boat and the
wharf as I landed, and by the sudden jerk ruptured a small blood-
vessel in my chest ; it was of no great importance in itself, but in
that climate required care, and I made the most of it. They
would have carried me on board again, but I begged to be taken
to the hotel. The surgeon of the regiment doing duty there at-
tended me, and I requested him to make my case as bad as
possible. The captain came to see me — I appeared very ill — his
compassion was like that of the inquisitor of the Holy Office, who
cures his victim in order to enable him to go through further tor-
ments. His time of sailing arrived, and I was reported to be too
ill to be removed. Determined to have me, he prolonged his stay.
I got better ; the surgeon's report was more favourable ; but I was

i88 FRANK MILDMAY.

still unwilling to go on board. The captain sent me an affection-
ate message, to say that if I did not come, he would send a file of
marines to bring me : he even came himself and threatened me ;
when, finding there were no witnesses in the room, I plainly told
him that if he persisted in having me on board, it would be to his
own destruction, for that I was fully determined to bring him to a
court-martial for drunkenness and unofficer-like conduct, the
moment we joined the admiral. I told him of the state in which
I had found him. I recapitulated his blasphemies, and his lub-
berly conduct in losing the two men ; he stared and endeavoured
to explain ; I was peremptory, and he whined and gave in, seeing
he was in my power.

" Well then, my dear fellow," said Jacky, *' since you are so
very ill — sorry as I shall be to lose you— I must consent to your
staying behind. I shall find it diflScult to replace you ; but as the
comfort and happiness of my officers is my first object on all oc-
casions, I will prefer annoying myself to annoying you." So
saying, he held out his hand to me, which I shook with a hearty
good-will, sincerely hoping that we might never meet again, either ,
in this world or the next.

He was afterwards brought to a court-martial, for repeated
acts of drunkenness and cruelty, and was finally dismissed the
service.

In giving this detail of Captain G 's peculiarities, let it not

be imagined that even at that period such characters were com-
mon in the service. I have already said that he was singular.
Impressment and the want of officers at the early part of the war,
gave him an opportunity of becoming a lieutenant ; he took the
weak side of the admiral to obtain his next step, and obtained the
command of a sloop, from repeated solicitation at the Admiralty,
and by urging his claims of long servitude. The service had re-
ceived serious injury by admitting men on the quarter-deck from
before the mast ; it occasioned there being two classes of officers
in the navy — namely, those who had rank and connections, and
those who had entered by the " hawseholes," as they were
describee? The first were favoured when young, and did not
acquire a competent knowledge of their duty; the second, with
few exceptions, as they advanced in their grades, proved, from
want of education, more and more unfit for their stations. These
defects have now been remedied ; and, as all young men who enter
the service must have a regular education, and consequently be
the sons of gentlemen, a level has been produced which, to a certain
degree, precludes favouritism, and perfectly bars the entrance to
such men as Captain G .

After the battle of Trafalgar, when England and Europe were
indebted for their safety to the British fleet, the navy became

FRANK MILDMAY. r8p

popular, and the aristocracy crowded into it. This forwarded still
more the melioration of the service, and under the succcedint;
naval administration, silent, certain, and g^radual improvements,
both in men, officers, and ships, took place Subsequently, the
navy has been still more fortunate, in havinc^ an ofQcer called to
its councils whose active and constant emp]o3''rncnt at sea, previous
to the peace of Paris, had given him a thorough insight into its
wants and abuses. Unconnected with party, and unawed by
power, he has dared to do his duty ; and it is Ing-hl}' to the credit of
the first lord who has so long presided at the board, that the sug-
gestions of this officer have met with due consideration ; I can
therefore assure my reader, that as long as his advice is attended
to, he need be afraid of meeting with no more Captain G s-

CHAPTER XVIIL

There she goes, brimful of anger andjealous3\ Mercy on the poor man!

''jEALovs Wife."
The dreadful fish that hath deserved the name

Of death. Spenser.

As the brig moved out of the harbour of Nassau, I moved
out of bed ; and as she set her royals and made sail, I put on
my hat and walked out. The officers of the regiment quartered
there, kindly invited me to join their mess ; and the colonel
enhanced the value of the offer by assigning to me good apart-
ments in the barracks. I was instantly removed to cleanly and
comfortable lodgings. I soon regained my strength, and was
able to sit at the table, where I found thirt3^-five young officers,
living for the day, careless of the morrow; and, beyond that,
never bestowing a thought. It is a singular fact, that where
life is most precarious, men are most indifferent about its pre-
servation ; and, where death is constantly before our eyes, as in
this country, eternity is seldom in our thoughts : but so it is ;
and the rule extends sti^ further in despotic countries. Where
the union between the head and shoulders may be dissolved in
a moment by the sword of a tyrant, life is not so valued, and
death loses its terrors ; hence the apathy and indifference with
which men view their executioners in that state of society. It
seems as if existence, like estates, was valuable in proportion, to
the validity of the title-deeds by which they are held.

To digress no more. Although I was far from being com-
monly virtuous, which is about tantamount to absolute wicked-
hess, I was no longer the thoughtless mortal I had ever been

U

100 FRANK MILDMAY.

since I left school. The society of Emily, and her imao;e
graven on my heart ; the close continement to the brig-, and the
narrow escape from di^alh in the second attempt to save the
poor sailor's life, had alto!_:^ether contributed their share to a
kind of temporary roforniation, if not a dis.c^ust at the coarser
descriptions of vice. The lecture I had received from Emily
on deceit, and the detestable conduct of my last captain, had,
as I thought, almost completed my reformation. Hitherto I felt
I had acted wrong, wit]:iout having the power to act right. I
forgot that I had never made the experiment. The declaration

of Captain G 's atheism was so far from converting me, that

from that moment I thought more seriously than ever of religion.
So great was my contempt for his character, that I knew what-
ever he said must be wrong, and, like the Spartan drunken slave,
he gave me the greatest horror of vice.

Such was my reasoning, and such my sentiments, previous to
any relapse into sin or folly, I knew its heinousness. I trans-
gressed and repented; habit was all-powerful in me; and the
only lirm support 1 could have looked to for assistance was,
unfortunately, very superficially attended to. Religion, for any
good purposes, was scarcely in my thoughts. My system was
a sort of Socratic heathen philosophy — a moral code calculated
to take a man tolerably safe through a quiet world, but not to
extricate him from a labyrinth of long -practised iniquity.

The thoughtless and vicious conduct of my companions
became to me a source of serious reflection. Far from following
their example, I felt myself some degrees better than they were ;
and, in the pride of my heart, thanked God I was not like
these publicans. My pharisaical arrogance concealed from me
the mortifying fact that I was much worse, and with very slight
hopes of amendment. Humility had not yet entered my mind;
but it was the only basis on which any religious improvement
could be created — the onlv chance of bein"' saved. I rather
became refined in vice, without quitting it. Gross and sensual
gratification, so easily obtained in the West Indies, was disgust-
ing to me ; yet I scrupled not to attempt the seduction of inno-
cence, rather more gratified in the pursuit than in the enjoyment,
which soon palled, and drove me after other objects.

I had, however, little occasion to exert my tact in this ar-r in
the Bahama Islands, where, as in all the other islands of the West
Indies, there is a class of women, born of white fathers and
mustee or mulatto women, nearly approaching in complexion
to the European ; many of them are brunettes, with long black
hair, very pretty, good eyes, and often elegant figures. These
ladies are too proud of the European blood in their veins to
furm an alHancc wifh nn^" male v.iio ^'■.'■:- :< ■.,!-:'i!ciiia (.>f blaci-c in

FRANK MILDMAY. 19^

his g"eneaIog-ical table ; consequently they seldom are married
unless from interested motives, wlien, having" acquired large

property by will, they are sought in wedlock by the white

settlers.

So circumstanced, these girls prefer an intercourse with the
object of their choice to a legal marriage with a person of
inferior birth ; and, having once made their selection, an act of
infidelity is uf rare occurrence among them. Their affection
and constancy will stand the test of time and of long sepa-
ration ; generous to prodigality, but jealous, and irritable in
their jealousy, even to the use of the dagger and poison.

One of these young ladies found sufficient allurement m my
personal charms to surrender at discretion, and we lived in that

sort of familiar intercourse which, in the West Indies, is looked
upon as a matter of necessity between the parties, and of
indiiference by every one else. I lived on in this Epicurean
style for some months ; until, most unfortunately, my cJiere amie
found a rival in the daughter of an oflicer high in rank on the
island. Smitten with my person, this fair one had not the
prudence to conceal her partiality : my vanity was too much
flattered not to take advantage of her sentiments in my favour;
and, as usual, flirtation and philandering occupied most of my
mornings, and sometimes my evenings, in the company of this
fair American.

Scandal is a goddess who reigns paramount not only in
Great Britain but also in all His Majesty's plantations ; and her
votaries .very soon selected me as the target of their archery.
My pretty Carlotta became jealous ; she taxed me with incon-
stancy. I denied the charge ; and, as a proof of my innocence,
she obtained from me a promise that I should go no more to
the house of her rival; but this promise I took very good care
to evade, and to break. For a whole fortnight my domestic
peace was interrupted either by tears, or by the most voluble
and outrageous solos, for I never replied after the first day.

A little female slave, one morning, made me a signal to follow
her to a retired part of the garden. I had shown this poor little
creature some acts of kindness, for which she amply repaid me.
Sometimes I had obtained for her a holiday — sometimes saved
her a whipping, and at others had given her a trifle of money ;
she therefore became exceedingly attached to me, and as she
saw her mistress's ang"er daily increase, she knew what it woultj
probably end in, and watched my safety like a litde guardian
sylph.

" No drinkfc-^ coffee, massa," said she, "Missy putty obeah

stuff in."

As soon as she said this, she disappeared, and I went into

192 FRANK MILDMAY.

the house, where I found Carlotta preparing the breakfast ; she
had an old woman with her, who seemed to be doing something
wliich she was not very willing I should see. I sat down care-
lessly humming a tune, with my face to a mirror, and my back
to Carlotta, so that I was able to watch her motions without
her perceiving" it. She was standing near the tireplace, the
coffee was by her on the table, and the old woman crouched in
the chimney-corner, with her bleared eyes fixed on the embers.
Carlotta seemed in doubt ; she pressed her hands forcibly on
her forehead ; took up the coffee-pot to pour me out a cup,
then set it down again ; the old woman muttered something in
their language ; Carlotta stamped with her little foot, and
poured out the coffee. She brought it to me — trembled as she
placed it before me — seemed unwilling to let go her hold, and
her hand still grasped the cup, as if she would take it away
again. The old woman growled and muttered something, in
which I could only hear the name of lier rival mentioned. This
was enough : the eyes of Carlotta lighted up like a flame ; she
quitted her hold of the salver, retreated to the fireplace, sat her-
self down, covered her face, and left me, as she supposed, to make
my last earthly repast.

" Carlotta," said I, with a sudden and vehement exclamation.
She started up, and the blood rushed to her face and neck in a
profusion of blushes, which are perfectly visible through the
skin of these mulattos. "Carlotta," I repeated, "I had a
dream last night ; and who do you think came to me ? It was
Obeah ! " She started at the name. " He told me not to drink
coffee this morning, but to make the old woman drink it." At
these words the beldam sprang up. '* Come here, you old
hag," said I. She approached trembling, for she saw that
escape from me was impossible, and that her guilt was detected.
I seized a sharp knife, and taking her by her few remaining
grey and woolly hairs, said, " Obeah's work must be done: I
do not order it, but he commands it ; drink that coffee instantly."

So powerful was the name of Obeah on the ear of the hag,
that she dreaded it more than my brandished knife She never
thought of imploring mercy, for she supposed it was useless
after the discovery, and that her hour was come ; she therefore
lifted the cup to her withered lip, and was just going to fulfil her
destiny and to drink, when I dashed it out of her hand, and
broke it in a thousand pieces on the floor, darting, at the same
time, a fierce look at Carlotta, who threw herself at my feet,
which she fervently kissed in an agony of conflicting passions.

" Kill me ! kill me ! *' ejaculated she ; " it was I that did it.
Obeah is great — he has saved you. Kill me, and I shall die
happy f now you are safe^-do kill nuft] "

t'RANK MILDMAY. 193

I listene'd to these frantic exclamations with perfect calmness.
When she was a little more composed, I desired her to rise.
She obeyed, and looked the image of despair, for she thought
' I should immediately quit her for the arms of her more fortu-
nate rival, and she considered my innocence as fully established
by the appearance of the deity.

"Carlotta," said I, "what would you have done if you had
succeeded in killing me?"

** I will show you," said she; when, going to a closet, she
took out another basin of coffee ; and before I could dash it
from her lips, as I had the former one from the black woman,
the infatuated girl had swallowed a small portion of it.

" What else can I do ? " said she ; '* my happiness is gone for
ever."

"No, Carlotta," said I ; "I do not wish for your death,
though you have plotted mine. I have been faithful to you,
and loved you, until you made this attempt."

"Will you forgive me before I die?" said she; "for die I
must, now that . I know you will quit me!" Uttering these
words, she threw herself on the floor with violence, and her
head coming into contact with the broken fragments of the basin,
she cut herself, and bled so copiously that she fainted. The
old woman had fled, and I was left alone with her, for poor little
Sophy was frightened, and had hidden herself.

I lifted Carlotta from the floor, and placing her in a chair, I
washed her face with cold water; and having stanched the
blood, 1 laid her on her bed, when she began to breathe and
to sob convulsively. I sat myself by her side ; and as I con-
templated her pale face, and witnessed her grief, I fell into a
train of melancholy retrospection on my numerous acts of vice
and folly.

" How many warnings," said I, "how many lessons am I to
receive before I shall reform ? How narrowly have I escaped
being gent to my account ' unaneled * and unprepared! What
must have been my situation if I had at this moment been
called into the presence of my offended Creator ? This poor
girl is pure and innocent, compared with me, taking into con-
sideration the advantages of education on my side, and the
want of it on hers. What has produced all this misery and the
dreadful consequences which might have ensued, but my folly
in trifling with the feelings of an innocent girl, and winning her
affections merely to gratify my own vanity ; at the same time that
I have formed a connection with this unhappy creature, the
breaking of which will never cause me one hour's regret, while it
will leave her in misery, and will, in all probability, embitter all

her future existence ? What shall I do ? Forgive, as I hope to

194 FRANK MILDMAV.

be forgiven : the fault was more mine than hers."

I then knelt down and most fervently repeated the Lord's
Prayer, adding some words of thanksgiving", for my undeserved
escape from death. \ rose up and kissed her cold, damp fore-,
head; she was sensible of my kindness, and her poor head
found relief in a flood of tears. Her eyes again gazed on me,
sparkling with gratitude and love, after all she had gone
through. I endeavoured to compose her ; the loss of blood
had produced the best effects ; and, having succeeded in calm-
ing her conflicting passions, she fell into a sound sleep.

The reader who knows the West Indies, or knows human
nature, will not be surprised that I should have continued this
connection as long as I remained on the island. From the art-
less manner in which Carlotta had conducted her plot ; from
her gestures and her agitation, I was quite sure that she was a
novice in this sort of crime, and that should she ever relapse
into her paroxysm of jealousy, I should be able to detect any
further attempt on my life. Of this, however, I had no fears,
having by degrees discontinued my visits to the young lady
who had been the cause of our y^racas ; and I never afterwards,
while on the island, gave Carlotta the slightest reason to suspect
my constancy. I was much censured for my conduct to the
young lady, as the attentions I had shown her, and her marked
preference for me, had driven away suitors who really were in
earnest, and they never returned to her again.

In these islands, the naturalist would find a vast store to
reward investigation ; they abound with a variety of plants,
birds, fish, shells, and minerals. It was here that Columbus
made his first landing, but in which of the islands I am not
exactly certain ; though I am very sure he did not find them
quite so agreeable as I did, for he very soon quitted them, and
steered away for St. Domingo.

It is not, perhaps, generally known that New Providence
was the island selected for his residence by Blackbeard, the
famous pirate ; the citadel that stands on the hill above the
town of "Nassau is built on the site of the fortress which con-
tained the treasure of that famous freebooter. A curious
circumstance occurred during my stay on this island, and which,
beyond all doubt, was connected with the adventures of those
extraordinary people known by the appellation of Buccaneers.
Some workmen were digging near the foot of the hill under the
fort, when they discovered some quicksilver, and, on inspection,
a very considerable quantity was found ; it had evidently been
a part of the plunder of the pirates, buried in casks, or skins,
and these having decayed, the liquid ore naturally escaped down
the hill.

FRANK MILDMAY. 195

Though not indifferent to the pleasures of the table, I was
far from resij^ning- myself to ihc. Circean life led by the generality
of young military men in the Bahamas.

The education which 1 h.ul received, and which placed me
far above the common run of society in the colonies, induced
me to seek for a companion whose mind had received equal

cultivation ; and such a one I found in Charles , a young

lieutenant in the regiment, quartered at Nassau. Our

intimacy became the closer, in proportion as we discovered
the sottish habits and ignorance of those around us. We
usually spent our mornings in reading the classic authors, with
which we were both familiar ; we spouted our Latin verses ;
we fenced ; and we amused ourselves occasionally with a game
of billiards, but never ventured our friendship on a stake for
money. When the heat of the day had passed off, we strolled
out, paid a few visits, or rambled over the island ; keeping as
much aloof from the barracks as possible, where the manner of
living was 5o very uncongenial to our notions. The officers
began their day about noon, when they sat down to breakfast;
after that, they separated to their different quarters, to read the
novels with which the presses of England and France inun-
dated these islands, to the great deterioration of morals. These
books, which they read lounging on their backs, or laid beside
them and fell asleep over, occupied the hottest part of the day ;
the remainder, till the hour of dinner arrived, was consumed
in visiting and gossiping, or in riding to procure an appetite for
dinner. Till four in the mornings their time was wholly de-
voted to smoking and drinking ; their beds received them in a
state of intoxication, more or less ; parade, at nine o'clock,
forced them out with a burning brain and parched tongue;
they rushed into* the sea, and found some refreshment in the
cool water, which enabled them to stand upright in front of
their men ; the formal duty over, they retired again to their
beds, where they lay till noon, and then to breakfast.

Such were their days; can it be wondered at that our
islands are fatal to the constitution of Europeans, when this is
their manner of life in a climate always disposed to take
advantage of any excess ? The men too readily followed the
example of their officers', and died off in the same rapid
manner; one of the most regular employments of the morning
was to dig graves for the victims of the night. Four or five
of these receptacles were thought a moderate number. Such
was the fatal apathy in which these officers existed, that the
approach, nay, even the certainty of death, gave them no
apparent concern, caused no preparation, excited no serious
reflection. They followed the corpse of a brother officer to the

196 FRANK MILDMAY.

grave in military procession. These ceremonies were always
conducted in the evening, and often have I seen these thought-
less young men throwing stones at the lanthorns which ^vere
carried before them to light them to the burying-ground.

I was always an early riser, and believe I owe much of my
good health to this custom. I used to delight in a lovely
tropical morning, when, with a cigar in my mouth, I walked
into the market. What would Sir William Curtis or Sir Charles
Flower have said, could they have seen, as I did, the numbers
of luxurious turtle lying on their backs, and displaying their
rich calapee to the epicurean purchaser ? Well, indeed, might
the shade of Apicius* lament that America and turtle were not
discovered in his days. There were the guanas, too, in abun-
dance, with their mouths sewed up to prevent their biting ;
these are excellent food, although bearing so near a resemblance
to the alligator, and its diminutive European representative,
the harmless lizard; Muscovy ducks, parrots, monkeys, pigeons,
and hsh. Pine-apples abounded, oranges, pomegranates, limes,
Bavarias, plantains, love-apples, Abbogada pears (better known
by the name of subaltern's butter), and many other fruits, all
piled in heaps, were to be had at a low price. Such was the
stock of a New Providence market.

Of the human species, buyers and vendors, there were black,
brown, and fair; from the fairest skin, with light blue eyes and
flaxen hair, to the jet black " Day and Martin'* of Ethiopia ;
from the loveliest form of Nature's mould, to the disgusting
squaw, whose flaccid mammae hang like inverted bottles to her
girdle, or are extended over her shoulder to give nourishment
to the little imp perched on her back ; and here the urchin sits
the iive-long day, while the mother performs all the drudgery of
the field, the house, or the market.

The confusion of Babel did not surpass the present gabble
of a West-India market. The loud and everlasting chatter of the
black women, old and young (for black ladies can talk as well
as white ones) ; the screams of children, parrots, and monkeys;
black boys and girls, clad d la Venus^ white teeth, red lips,
black skins, and elephant legs, formed altogether a scene well
worth looking at ; and now, since the steamers have acquired
so much velocity, I should think woilld not be an unpleasant
lounge for the fastidious e7t?iuye of France or England. The
cheerfulness of the slaves, whom our morbid philanthropists
wish to render happy by making discontented, would altogether
amply repay the trouble and expense of a voyage to those
who have leisuie or money enough to enable them to visit the
tropical islands.

* LyttletQu'b Dialogues of the Dead.

FRANK MILDMAY. 197

The delightful, and, indeed, indispensable amusement of
bathing, is particularly dangerous in these countries, xn the
shallows you are liable to be struck by the sting-ray, a species
of skate, with a sharp barb about the middle of its tail; and
the effect of the wound "is so serious, that I have known a
person to be in a state of frenzy from it for nearly forty-eight
hours. In deeper water, the sharks are not only numerous
but ravenous ; and I sometimes gratified their appetites, and
my own love of excitement, by purchasing the carcass of a
dead cow, or horse. This I towed off, and anchored with a
thick rope and a large stone ; then, from my boat, with a
harpoon, I amused myself in striking these devils as they
crowded round for their meal. My readers will, I fear, think I
am much too fond of relating adventures among these marine
undertakers ; but the following incident will not be found without
interest.

In company with Charles, one beautiful afternoon, rambling
over the rocky cliffs at the back of the island, we came to a
spot where the stillness and the clear transparency of the
water invited us to bathe. It was not deep. As we stood
above, on the promontory, we could see the bottom in every
part. Under the Ihtlo headland which formed the opposite
side of the cove, there was a cavern, to which as the shore
was steep, there was no access but by swimming, and ^ we
resolved to explore it. We soon reached its mouth, and were
enchanted with its romantic grandeur and wild beauty. It
extended, we found, a long way back, and had several natural
baths, into all of which we successively threw ourselves, each, as
they receded further from the mouth of the cavern, being colder
than the last. The tide, it was evident, had free ingress, and
renewed the water every twelve hours. Here we thoughtlessly
amused ourselves for some time, quoting Acis and Galatea,
Diana and her nymphs, and every classic story applicable to
the scene.

At length, the declining sun warned us that it was time to take
our departure from the cave, when, at no great distance from us,
we saw the back, or dorsal fin, of a monstrous shark above the
surface of the water, and his whole length visible beneath it.
We looked at him and at each other with dismay, hoping that
he would soon take his departure, and go in search of other prey ;
but the rogue swam to and fro, just like a frigate blockading
an enemy's port, and we felt, I suppose, very much as we used
to make the French and Dutch feel last war, at Brest and the
Texel.

The sentinel paraded before us, about ten or fifteen yards in

front of the cave, tack and tack, waiting only to serve one, if

198 FRANK MILDMAY.

not both of us, as we should have served a shrimp or an oyster.
Wc had no intention, however, in this, as in other instances, of
" throwin,^'- ourseJves on the mercy of the court." In vain did
we look for relief from other quarters ; the promontory above
us was inaccessible ; the tide was rising, and the sun tou'^hing-
the clear blue edee of the horizon.

4 >

I, being the leader, pretended to a little knowledge in ichthy-
ology, and told my companion that fish could hear as well as
see, and that therefore the less we said the better ; and the
sooner we retreated out of his sight, the sooner he would take
himself off. This was our only chance, and that a poor one ;
for the flow of the water would soon have enabled him to enter
the cave and help himself, as he seemed perfectly acquainted
with the /ocale, and knew that we had no mode of retreat but
by the way we came. We drew back out of sight ; and I don't
know when I ever passed a more unpleasant quarter of an hour.
A suit in Chancery, or even a spring lounge in Newgate, would
have been almost luxury to what I felt when the shades of
night began to darken the mouth of our cave, and this infernal
monster continued to parade, like a water-bailiff, before its
door. At last, not seeing the shark's fin above water, I made a
sign to Charles that, co^Ue (/ui coiUe, we must swim for it ; for we
had notice to quit, by the tide ; and if we did not depart, should
soott have an execution in the house. We had been careful
not to utter a word ; and, silently pressing each other by the
hand, we slipped into the water ; when, recommending ourselves
to Providence, which, for my part, I seldom forgot when I was
in imminent danger, we struck out manfully. I must own I
never felt more assured of destruction, not even when I swam
through the blood of the poor sailor ; for then the sharks had
something to occupy them, but here they had nothing else to

do but to look after us. We had the benefit of their undivided
attention.

My sensations were indescribably horrible. 1 may occasionally
write or talk of the circumstance with levity, but whenever
I recall it to mind, I tremble at the bare recollection of the
dreadful fate that seemed inevitable. My companion was not
so expert a swimmer n.s I was, so that I distanced him many
feet, when I heard l-i utter a faint cry. I turned round,
convinced that the shark had seized him, but it was not so ; my
having left him so far behind had increased his terror and
induced him to draw my attention. I returned to him, held
him up, and encouraged him. \Vithout this he would certainly
have sunk ; he revived with my iielp, and we reached the sandy
beach in safety, having eluded our enemy ; who, when he

FRANK MILDMAY. 199

neither saw or heard us, had, as I concluded he would, quitted
the spot.

Once more on terra firma, we lay gasping for some minutes
before we spoke. What my companion's thoughts were, I do
not know ; mine were replete with gratitude to God, and renewed
vows of amendment ; and I have every reason to think, that
although Charles had not so much room for reform as myself,
that his feelings were perfectly in unison with my own. We
never afterwards repeated this amusement, though we frequently
talked of our escape, and laughed at our terrors ; yet on these
occasions our conversation always took a serious turn : and, upon
the whole, I am convinced that this adventure did us both a vast
deal of good.

I had now been six months in these islands, had perfectly
recovered my health, and became anxious for active employment.
The brilliant successes of our rear-admiral at Washington made
me wish for a share of the honour and glory which my brethren in
arms were acquiring on the coast of North America ; but my
wayward fate sent me in a very opposite direction.

CHAPTER XIX.

Mira. How came we ashore ?

Pro. By Providence divine.

»♦****

Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow.

Here in this island we arrived. Shakspeare.

A FRIGATE called at the island for turtle ; and, having repre-
sented my case to the captain, he offered to take me on board,
telling me at the same time that he was going much further to
the southward, to relieve another cruiser, who would then
return to England, and the captain of her would, no doubt, give
me a passage home. I accordingly made hasty preparations for
my departure ; took leave of all my kind friends at the barracks,
for kind indeed they were to me, although thoughtless and
foolish towards themselves. I bade adieu to the families on the
island, in whose houses and at whose tables I had experienced
the most liberal hospitality ; and last, though not least, I took
leave of poor Carlotta.

This was a difficult task to perform, but it was imperative. I
told her that I was ordered on board by my captain, who, being
a very different person from the last, I dared not disobey. I
promised to return to her soon. I offered her money and

200 FRANK MILDMAY.

presents, but she ^."ould accept of nothing; but a small locket, to
wear for my sake. ^ i. purchased the freedom of poor Sophy, the
black girl who had saved my life. The little creature wept
bitterly at my coming- away; but I could do no more for her.
As for Carlotta, I learned afterwards that she went on board
every ship that arrived to gain intelligence of me, who seldom or
never gave her a thought.

We sailed ; and, steering away to the south-east with mode-
rate winds and fine weather, captured, at the end of that time, a
large American ship, which h id made a devious course from the
French coast, in hopes of avoiding our cruisers ; she was about
four hundred tons, deeply laden, and bound to Laguira, with a
valuable cargo. The captain sent for me, and told me that if I
chose to take charge of her, as prize-master, I might proceed to
England direct. This plan exactly suited me, and I consented,
only begging to have a boatswain's mate, named Thompson, to
go along with me ; he was an old shipmate, and had been one
of my gig's crew when we had the affair in Basque Roads: he
was a steady, resolute, quiet, sober, raw-boned Caledonian,
from Aberdeen, and a man that I knew would stand by me in
the hour of need. He was ordered to go with me, and the
necessary supply of provisions and spirits were on board. I

received my orders, and took my leave of my new captaiu, who
was both a good seaman and an excellent of&cer.

When I got on board the prize, I found all the prisoners busy
packing up their things, and they became exceedingly alert in
placing them in the boat which was to convey them on board
the frigate. Indeed they all crowded into her with an unusual
degree of activity ; but this did not particularly strike my atten-
tion at the time. My directions were to retain the captain and
one man with me, in order to condemn the vessel in the court of
admiralty.

Occupied with many objects at once, all important to me, as
I was so soon to part company with the frigate, I did not
recollect this part of my orders, and that I was detaining the
boat, until the young midshipman who had charge of her asked
me if he might return on board and take th& prisoners. I then
went on deck, and seeing the whole of them, with their chests
and bags, seated very quietly in the boat, and ready to shove
off, I desired the captain and one of the American seamen to
come on board again, and to bring their clothes with them. I
did not remark the unwillingness of the captain to obey this
order, until told of it by the midshipman ; his chest and goods
were immediately handed in upon deck, and the signal from the
frigate being repeated, with a li^^ht for the boat to return (for it

i i

FRANK MILDMAY. 201

was now dark), she shoved off hastily, and was soon out of
sieht.

Stop the boat! — for God's sake stop the boat! " cried the
captain.

"Why should I stop the boat?" said I; "my orders are
positive, and yon must remain with me."

I then went below for a minute or two, and the captain
followed me.

" As you value your life, sir/' said he, *' stop the boat,"

"Why? " asked I, eagerly.

'Because, sir," said he, "the ship has been scuttled by the
men, and will sink in a few hours : you cannot save her, for you
cannot get at her leaks."

I now did indeed see the necessity of stopping the boat ; but
it was too late : she was out of sight. ^The lantern, the signal
for her return, had been hauled down, a proof that she had got
on board. I hoisted two lights at the mizen peak, and ordered
a musket to be fired ; but, unfortunately, the cartridges had
either not been put in the boat which brought me, or they had
been taken back in her. One of my lights went out; the other
was not seen by the frigate. AVe hoisted another light, but it
gained no notice : the ship had evidently made sail. I
stood after her as fast as I could, in hopes of her seeing us that
night, or taking us out the next morning, should we be afloat.

But my vessel, deeply laden, was already getting water-
logged, and would not sail on a wind more than four miles an
hour. All hope in that quarter vanished. I then endeavoured
to discover from the captain where the leaks were, that we
might stop them ; but he had been drinking so freely, that I
could get nothing from him but Dutch courage and braggadocio.
The poor black man who had been left with the captain was
next consulted. .. AH he knew was, that, when at Bordeaux,
the captain had caused holes to be bored in the ship's bottom,
that he might pull the plugs out whenever he liked, swearing,
at the same time, that she never should enter a British port.
He did not know where the leaks were situated, though it was
evident to me that they were in the after and also in the fore
parts of the ship, low down, and now deep under water, both
inside as well as out. The black man added that the captain had
let the water in, and that was all he knew.

I again spoke to the captain, but he was too far gone to reason
with : he had got drunk to die, because he was afraid to die sober
■ — no unusual case with sailors.

" Don't tell me ; d~n me, who is afeard to die ? I arn't. I
swore she should never enter a British port, and I have kept my
word,"

202 FRANK MILDMAY.

He then began to use curses and execrations ; and at la^t fell
on the deck in a fit of drunken frenzy.

I now called my people all together, and having- stated to
them the peril of our situation, we agreed that a large boat which
Jay on the booms should be instantly hoisted out, and stowed
with everything necessary for a voyage. Our clothes, bread, salt
meat, and water, were put into her, with my sextant and spy-
glass. The liquor which was in the cabin I gave in charge to
the midshipman who was sent with me ; and, having completely
stowed our boat, and prepared her with a good lugsail, we made
her fast with a couple of stout tow-ropes, and veered her astern,
with four men in her, keeping on our course in the supposed
track of the frigate till daylight.

That wished for hour arrived, but no frigate was to be seen,
even from the mast-head. The ship was getting deeper and
deeper, and we prepared to take to the boat. I calculated thes
nearest part of South America to be seven hundred miles from
us, and that we were more than twice that distance from Rio
Janoiro. I did not however despond, for, under all circum-
stances, we were extremely well oif : and I inspired the men
with so much confidence, that they obeyed in everything with
the utmost alacrity and cheerfulness, except in one single point.

Finding the ship could not in all probability float more than
an hour or two, I determined to quit her, and ordered the boat
alongside. The men got into her, stepped the mast, hooked
on the lug-sail, ready to hoist at my orders ; and, without my
bidding, had spread my boat cloak in the stern-sheets, and made
a comfortable place for me to repose in. The master proceeded
to get into the boat, but the men repulsed him with kicks, blows,
and hisses, swearing most dreadfully that if he attempted to
come in, they would throw him overboard. Although in some
measure I participated in their angry feeling, yet 1 could not
reconcile myself to leave a fellow-creature thus to perish, even in
Ihc pit which he had dug for others ; and this too at a time when
we needed every induig'eace from the Almiglity for ourselves, and
every assistance from His hand to conduct us into a port.

" He deserves to die; it is all his own doings," said they;

" come into the boat yourself, sir, or we must shove off without
you."

The poor captain — who after sleeping four hours had re-
covered his senses and felt all the horror of his situation — wept,
screamed, tore his hair, laid hold of my coat, from which only the
strength of my raen could disengage liim. He clung to life with
a passion of feeling" which I never saw in a criminal condemned
by the law ; he fell on his knees before me, as he appealed to us
all collectively and separately ; he reminded us of his wife and

FRANK MIT.D:\IAY. 203

starvini:; ciiihiicn at Baltimore, and he implored us to think of
thciv. and of our own.

1 Avas melted to tears, I confess ; but my men heard him with
the most stoical unconcern. Two of them tlirew^ him over to
the opposite side of the deck; and before he coidd recover from
the violence of the fall, pushed me into the boat, and shoved off.
The wretched rnan had by this time crawled over to the side we
had just left ; and throwing- himself on liis knees, again screamed
out, "Oh, mercy, mercy, mercy.' — For God's sake, have mercy,
if vou expect any ! — O God ! my wife and babes ! "

Mis prayers, I lament to say, had no effect on the exaspe-
rated seamen. He then fell into a fit of cursing- and blasphemy,
evidently bereft of his senses ; and in this state he continued for
some minutes, while we lay alongside, the bowman holding on
with the boat-hook only. I was secretly determined not to leave
him, although I foresaw a mutiny in the boat in consequence.
At length, I gave the order to shove off. The unhappy captain,
who, till that moment, might have entertained some faint hope
from the lurking compassion wliich he perceived I felt for him,
now resigned himself to despair of a more sullen and liorrible
aspect. He sat himself down on one of the lien-coops, and gazed
on us with a ghastly eye. I cannot remember ever seeing a more
shocking picture of human misery.

While I looked at him, the black man, Mungo, who belonged
to the ship; sprang overboard from the boat and swam back to the
wreck. Seizing a rope which hung from the gangway, he ascended
the side, and joined his master. We called to him to come back,
or we. should leave him behind.

*' No massa," replied the faithful creature; "me no want to
lib : no takee master Green notakee me ! Mungo lib good many
years wi massa cappen. Mungo die with massa, and go back to

Guinea ! '*

I now thought we had given the captain a sufficient lesson
for his treachery and murderous intentions. Had I, indeed,
ever seriously intended to leave him, the conduct of poor
Mungo would have awakened me to a sense of my duty. I
ordered Thompson, who was steering the b^at, to put the helm
a star-board, and lay her alongside again. No sooner was this
command given, than three or four of the men jumped up in a
menacing attitude, and swore that they would not go back for
liim ; that he was the cause of all their sufferings ; and that if I
chose to share his fate, I might, but into the boat he should not
come. One of them, more daring than the rest, attempted to take
the ti]h:r out of Thompson's hand ; but the trusty seaman seized
him bv the collar, and in an instant threw him overboard. The

ullici" ill' ii wr;*: Cumin;;' all t*.' riVi;ni.:c ti.i> ti'ca; ihi'i,'. t,f ■■.],f\v Icadei ;

204 FRANK MILDMAY.

but I drew my sword, and pointing it at the breast of the nearest
mutineer, desired him, on pain of instant death, to return to his
seat. He had heard my character, and knew that I was not to be
trifled with.

A mutineer is easily subdued with common firmness. He
obeyed, but was very sullen, and I heard many mutinous expres-
sions among the men. One of them said that I was not their
officer — that I did not belong to the frigate.

" That," I replied, *' is a case of which I shall not allow you to
be the judges. I hold in my pocket a commission from the king's
lord high admiral, or the commissioners for executing that duty.
Your captain, and mine also, holds a similar commission. Under
this authority I act. Let me see the man that dares dispute it—
I will hang him at the yard-arm of the wreck before she goes
down;" and, looking at the man whom Thompson had thrown
overboard, and who still held by the gunwale of the boat, with-
out daring to get in, I asked him if he would obey me or not ?
He replied that he would, and hoped I would forgive him. I said
that my forgiveness would depend entirely on the conduct of him-
self and the others : that he must recollect that if our own ship
or any other man-of-war picked us up, he was liable, with three
or four more, to be hanged for mutiny ; and that nothing but his
and their future obedience could save them from that punishment
whenever we reached a port.

This harangue had a very tranquillizing effect. The offenders
all begged pardon, and assured me they would deserve my
forgiveness by their future submission.

All this passed at some little distance from the wreck, but within
hearing ; and while it was going on, the wind, which had been
fair when we put off, gradually died away, and blew faintly from
the south-west, directly towards the sinking wreck. I took ad-
vantage of this circumstance to read them a lecture. When I
had subdued them and worked a little on their feelings, I said I
never knew any good come of cruelty ; whenever a ship or a boat
had left a man behind who might have been saved, that disaster
or destruction had invariably attended those who had so cruelly
acted ; that I was quite sure we never should escape from this
danger if we did not show mercy to our fellow-creatures. *' God,"
said I, *' has shown mercy to us in giving us this excellent boat to
save us in our imminent danger ; and He seems to say to us now,
' Go back to the wreck, and rescue your fellow-sufferer.' The
wind blows directly towards her, and is foul for the point in which
we intend to steer ; hasten then," pursued I, ** obey the divine
will ; do your duty, and trust in God. I shall then be proud
to command you, and have no doubt in bringing you safe into
port."

FRANK MILDMAY. 205

This was the " pHant hour;" they spronc^ upon their oars,
and pulled back to the wreck with alacrity. The poor captain,
who had witnessed all that had passed, watched the progress of
his cause with deep anxiety. No sooner did the boat touch the
ship than he leaped into her, fell down on his knees, and thanked
God aloud for his deliverance. He then fell on my neck, em-
braced me, kissed my cheek, and wept like a girl. The sailors,
meanwhile, who never bear malice long, good-naturedly jumped
up, and assisted him in getting his little articles into the boat;
and as Mungo followed his master, shook hands with him
all round, and swore he should be a black prince when he
went back to Guinea. We also took in one or two more little
articles of general use, which had been forgotten in our former
hurry. ^

We now shoved off for the last time; and had not proceeded
more than two hundred yards from the ship, when slie gave a
heavy lurch on one side, recovered it, and rolled as deep on
the other ; then, as if endued with life and instinct, gave a pitch,
and went down head foremost into the fathomless deep. We had
scarcely time to behold this awful scene, when the wind again
sprang up fair, from its old quarter, the east.

" There," said I, " heaven has declared itself in your favour
already. You have got your fair wind again."

We thanked God for this ; and having set our sail, I shaped my
course for Cape St. Thomas, and we went to our frugal dinner
with cheerful and grateful hearts.

The weather was fine — the sea tolerabl)^ smooth — and as we
had plenty of provisions and water, we did not suffer much,
except from an apprehension of a change of wind, and the
knowledge of our precarious situation. On the fifth day after
leaving the wreck we discovered land at a great distance. I knew
it to be the island of Trinidad and the rocks of Martin Vas. This
island, which lies in latitude twenty degrees south, and longitude
thirty degreejs west, is not to be confounded with the island of the
same name on the coast of Terra Firma in the West Indies, and
now a British colony.

On consulting Horsburgh, which I had in the boat, I found
that the island which we were now approaching was formerly in-
habited by the Portuguese, but long since abandoned. I con-
tinued steering towards it during the night, until we heard the
breakers roaring against the rocks, when I hove-to to windward
of the land, till daylight.

The morning presented to our view a precipitous and rugged
iron-bound coast, with high and pointed rocks, frowning de-
fiance over the unappeasable and furious waves which broke
incessantly at their feet, and recoiled to repeat the blo\v. Thus

2o6 FRANK MILDMAY.

for ages had they been employed, and thus for ages will they
continue, without making any impression visible to the eye of man.
To land was impossible on the part of the coast now under our
inspection, and we coasted along" in hopes of finding some iiaven
into which we might haul our boat, and secure her. The island
appeared to be about nine miles long, evidently of volcanic
formation, an assemblage of rocky mountains towering several
hundred feet above the level of the sea. It was barren, except at
the summit of the hills, where some trees formed a coronet at once
beautiful and refreshing, but tantalizing to look at, as they appeared
utterly inaccessible ; and even supposing I could have discovered
a landing-place, I was in great doubt whether I should liave
availed myself of it, as the island appeared to produce nothing
which could have added to our comfort, while delay would only
have uselessly consumed our provisions. There did not appear to
be a living c.reature on the island, and the danger of approaching
to find a landing-place was most imminent.

This unpromising appearance induced me to propose that we
should continue our course to Rio Janeiro. The men were ot:
.another opinion They said they had been too long a(f(»a(, ci)oped
up, and that they should prefer remaining on the ishuid to risking
their lives any longer in so frail a boat on the wide oce.iii. We
were still debating, when we came to a small. spot of sand on which
we discovered two wild hogs, which we conjectured had coin-,- down
to feed on the shell fish ; this decided them, and I consented to
run to leeward of the island, and seek for a landing-place. \Vg
sounded the west end, following the remarks of Horsburgh, and
ran for the cove of the Nine- Pin Rock. As we opened it, a
scene of grandeur presented itself, which we had never met with
before, and which in its kind is probably unrivalled in nature. An
enormous rock rose, nearly perpendicularly, out of the sea, to tlie
height of nine hundred or one thousand feet. It was as narrow at
the base as it was at the top, and was formed exactly in the shape
of a nine-pin, from which it derives its name. The sides appeared
smooth and even to the top, which was covered with verdure,
and was so far above us that the sea-birds, which in myriads
screamed around it, were scarcely visible two-thirds of the way up.
The sea beat violently against its base — the feathered tribe, in
endless variety, had been for ages the undisturbed tenants of this
natural monument ; all its jutting points and little projections
were covered with their white dung, and it seemed to me a wonder-
ful eilort ot nature which had placed this mass in the position
whicli it held in spite of the utmost ciforts of the winds and waves
of the wide ocean.

Another curious phenomenon appeared at the other end of
the cove. The lava had poured down into the sea, and formed

FRANK MILDMAY. 207

r

a stratum ; a second river of fused rock had poured again over
the first, and had cooled so rapidly as to hang suspended, not
having joined the former strata, but leaving a vacuum -between
for the water to fill up. The sea dashed violently between the
two beds, and spouted magnificently througli holes in the upper
bed of lava to the height of sixty feet, resembling much the
spouting of a whale, but with a noise and force infinitely greater.
The sound, indeed, was tremendous, hollow, and awful. I
could not help mentally adoring the works of the Creator, and
my heart sunk within me at my own insignificance, folly, and
wickedness.

As we were now running along the shore, looking for our
landing-place, and just going to take in the sail, the American
captain, who sat close to the man at the helm, seemed attentively
watching something on the larboard bow of the boat. In an
instant he exclaimed, "Port your helm, my good fellow, port
hard." These words he accompanied with a push of the helm so
violent as almost to throw overboard the man who sat on the
larboard quarter. At the same moment, a heavy sea lifted the
boat, and sent her many yards beyond and to tlie right of a
pointed rock just flush or even with the water, which had
escaped our notice, and which none suspected but the American
captain (for these rocks do not show breakers every minute
— if they did they would be easily avoided). On this we should
most certainly have been dashed to pieces, had not the
danger been seen, and avoided by the sudden and skilful
motion of the helm ; one moment more, and one foot nearer, and
we were gone.

"Merciful God!" said I, "to what fate am I rescr\ed at
last ? How can I be sufficiently thankful for so much good-
ness ! "

I thanked the American for his attention — told my men how
much we were indebted to him, and how amply he had repaid our
kindness in taking him off the wreck.

" Ah, lieutenant ! " said the poor man, " it is a small turn I've
done you for the kindness you have shown to me."

The water was very deep, the rocks being steep ; so we lowered
our sail, and getting our oars out, pulled in to look for a landing.
At the further end of the. cove, we discovered the wreck of a vessel
lying on the beach. She was broken in two, and appeared to be
copper-bottomed. This increased the eagerness of the men to
land; we rowed close to the shore, but tound that the boat would
be dashed to pieces if we attempted it. The midshipman pro-
posed that one of us should swim on shore, and, by ascending a
hill, discover a place to lay the boat ni- This I agreed to; and
the quarter-master immediately threw off' his clothes. I made a

2o8 FRANK MILDMAY.

head-line fast to him under his arms, that we might pull him In if
we found liim exhausted , He went over the surf with great ease,
until he came to the breakers on the beach, through which he
could not force his way; for the moment he touched the ground
with his foot, the recoil of the sea, and what is called by sailors
the undertow, carried him back again, and left him in the rear of
the last wave.

Three times the brave fellow made the attempt, and with the
same result. At last he sank, and we pulled him in very nearly
dead. We, however, restored him by care and attention, and he
went again to his usual duty. The midshipman now proposed
that he should try to swim through the surf without the line, for
that alone had impeded the progress of the quarter-master ; this
was true, but I would not allow him to run the risk, and wc pulled
along shore, until we came to a rock on which the surf beat very
higli, and which we avoided in consequence. This rock we dis-
covered to be detached from the main ; and within it, to our great
joy, we saw smooth watci' ; we pulled in, and succeeded in landing
without much difficulty, and having secured our boat to a grapnel,
and left two trusty men in charge of her, I proceeded with the rest to
explore the cove ; our attention was naturally first directed to the
wreck which we had passed in the boat, and, after a quarter of an

hour's scrambling over huge fragments of broken rocks, which had
been detached from the sides of the hill, and encumbered the
beach, we arrived at the spot.

The wreck proved to be a beautiful copper-bottomed schooner,
of about a hundred and eighty tons burthen. She had been
dashed on shore witH great violence, and thrown many yards
above the high-water mark. Her masts and spars were lying in
all directions on the beach, which was strewed with her cargo.
This consisted of a variety of toys and hardware, musical instru-
ments, violins, flutes, fifes, and bird-organs. Some few remains
of books, which I picked up, were French romances, with indelicate
plates, and still worse text. These j^roved the vessel to be French.
At a short distance from the wreck, on a rising knoll, we found
three or four huts, rudely constructed out of the fragments ; and,
a little further off, a succession of graves, each surmounted with
a crosa I examined the huts, which contained some rude and
simple relics of human tenancy : a few benches and tables, com-
posed of boards roughly hewn out and nailed together ; bores of
goats and of the wild hog, with the remains of burnt wood. ..But
we could not discover any traces of the name of the vessel or
owner ; nor were there any names marked or cut on the boards,
as might have been expected, to show to whom the vessel
beion-;cJ, and what had become of the survivors.

This studied concealment of all information led us to the most

FRANK MILDMAY. 209

accurate knowledge of her port of departure, her destination, and
her object of trade. ]^eing- on the south-west side of the island,
with her head lying- to the north-east, she bad, beyond all doubt,
been running- from Rio Janeiro towards the coast of Africa, and
got on shore in the night. That slie was K^ing" to fetch a cargo
of slaves was equally clear, not only from the baubles with which
she was freighted, but also from the interior fitting of the vessel,
and from a number of hand and lee: shackles which we found
among the wreck, and which we knew were only used for the pur-
poses of confining and securing the unhappy victims of this trafftc.

We took up our quarters in the huts for the night, and the next
morning divided ourselves into three parties, to explore the island.
I have before observed that we had muskets, but no powder, and
therefore stood but little chance of killing any of the goats or wild
hogs, with which we found the island abounded. One party
sought the means of attaining the highest summit of the island ;
another went along the shore to the westward; while myself and
two others went to the eastward. We crossed several ravines,
with much difficulty, until we reached a long valley, which seemed
to intersect the island.

Here a wonderful and most melancholy phenomenon arrested
our attention. Thousands and thousands of trees covered the
valley, each of them about thirty feet high ; but every tree was
dead, and extended its leafless boughs to another — a forest of
desolation, as if nature had at some particular moment ceased to
vegetate ! There was no under wood or grass. On the lowest of
the dead boughs, the gannets, and other sea-birds, had built their
nests in numbers uncountable. Their tameness, as Cowper says,
"was shocking to me.'* dSo unaccustomed did they seem to man,
that the mothers, brooding over their young, only opened their
beaks in a menacing attitude at us, as we passed by them.

How to account satisfactorily for the simultaneous destruction
of this vast forest of trees was very difficult : there was no want of
rich earth for nourishment of the roots. The most probable cause
appeared to me, a sudden and continued eruption of sulphuric
efSuvia from the volcano ; or else, by some unusually heavy gale
of wind or hurricane, the trees had been drenched with salt water
to their roots. One or the other of these causes must have
produced the effect. The philosopher, or the geologist must
decide.

We had the consolation to know that we should at least experi-
ence no want of food — the nests of the birds affording us a plentiful
supply of eggs, and young ones of every age; with these we
returned loaded to the cove. The party that had gone to the
westward reported having seen some wild hogs, but were unable
to secure any of them ; and those who had attempted to ascend

210 FRANK MILDMAY.

the mountain returned much fatig-ued, and one of their number
missing. \ They reported that they had gained the summit of the
mountain, where they liad discovered a larg-e plain, skirted by a
species of fern tree, from twelve to eighteen feet hig-ji — that on this
plain they had seen a herd of goats ; and among them, could
distinguish one of enormous size, which appeared to be their
leader. He was as hirge as a pony ; but all attempts to take one
of them were utterly fruitless. Tiie man who was missing had
followed them furtlitn- than they had. They waited some time for
his return ; but as he did not come to them, they concluded he
had taken some other route to the cove. I did not quite Uke this
story, fearing some dreadful accident had befallen the poor fellow,
for whom we kept a watch, and had a lire burning the whole night,
which, like the former one, we passed in the huts. We had an
abundant supply of firewood from the wreck, and a stream of clear
water ran close by our little village.

The next morning, a party was sent in search of the man, and
some were sent to fetch a supply of young gannets for our dinner.
The latter brought back with them as many young birds as would
suffice for two or three days ; but of the three who wont in
quest of the missing man, only two returned. They reported that
they could gain no tidings of him : that they had missed one of
their own number, who had, no doubt, gone in pursuit of his
shipmate.

This intelligence occasioned a great deal of anxiety, and
many surmises. The most prevalent opinion seemed to be that
there were wild beasts on the island, and that our poor friends
had becoine a prey to them. I determined, the next morning,
to go in search of them myself, taking one or two chosen men
with me. I should have mentioned, that when we left the
sinking vessel, we had taken out a poodle dog, that was on
board, first, because I would not allow the poor animal to
perish ; and secondly, because we might, if we had no better
food, make a c^inner of him. This was quite fair, as charity
begins at home.

This faithful animal became much attaclied to me, from whom
he invariably received his portion of food. J [e never quitted me,
nor followed anyone else ; and he was my companion: when I went
on this excursion.

We reached the summit of '^e first mountain, whence we
saw the goats browsing on the second, and meant to go there in
pursuit of the objects of our anxious search. I was some yards
in advance of my coirijianlons, and the dog a little distance
before me, near the sliclvi ng part of a rock, terminating in a
precipice. The shelf I had to cross was about six or seven feet
wide, and ten or twelve long, wit'i .\. vorv iittle inclined plane

FRANK MILDMAY. 211

towards the precipice, so that I thought it perfectly safe. A
small rill of water trickled down from the rock above it, and,
losing itself among the moss and grass, fell over the precipice
below, which indeed was a frightful depth.

This causeway was to all appearance safe, compaisd with
many which we had passed, and I was just going to step upon
it, when my dog ran before me, jumped on the fatal pass — his
feet slipped from under him — he fell, and disappeared over the
precipice ! 1 started back — 1 heard a heavy squelch and a
howl; another fainter succeeded, and all was still. I advanced
with the utmost caution to the edge of the precipice, where I
discovered that the rill of water had nourished a short moss,
close and smooth as velvet, and so slippery as not to admit of
the lightest footstep ; this accounted for the sudden disappear-
ance, and, as I concluded, the inevitable death of my dog-

My first thoughts were those of gratitude for my miraculous
escape ; my second unwillingly glanced at the fate of my poor
men, too probably lying lifeless at the foot of this mountain. I
stated my fears to the two seamen who were with me, and who
had just come up. The whole bore too much the appearance
of truth to admit of a doubt. We descended the rocks by a
circuitous and winding way ; and, after an hour's difficult and
dangerous walk, we reached the spot, where all our fears were
too fully confirmed. There lay the two dead bodies of our
companions and that of my dog, all mangled in a shocking man-
ner : both, it would appear, had attempted to cross the shelf in
the same careless way which I was about to do, when Providence
interposed the dog in my behalf.

This singular dispensation was not lost upon me ; indeed,
latterjy, 1 had been in such perils, and seen such hair-breadth
escapes, that I became quite an altered and seflccting character.
I returned to my men at the cove, thoughtful and melancholy;
I told them of what liad happened; and, having a prayer-book
with mo in my trunk, I proposed to them that I should read the
evening prayers, and a thanksgiving for our deliverance.

In tliis, tJie American captain, whose name was Green, most
heartily concurred. )ndeed, ever since this poor man had been
received into the boat, he had been a very different character
to what I had at first supposed him ; he constantly refused his
allowance of spirits, giving it among the sailors; he was silent
and meditative ; I often found him in prayer, and on these
occasions 1 never interrupted him. At other times, he studied
Jiovv he might make liimself most useful. He would patch and
mend the pcoi^le's clothes and slioes, or show them how to do
it for themselves. \A'hcnever any hard work was to be done,
he was always the first to begin, and the last to leave off; and

212 FRANK MILDMAY.

to such a degree did he carry his attention and kindness, that
we all began to love him, and to treat him with great respect.
He took charge of a watch when we were at sea, and never closed
his eyes during his hour of duty.

Nor was this the effect of fear, or the dread of ill-usage
among so many Englishmen, whom his errors had led into so
much misfortune. He very soon had an opportunity of proving
that his altered conduct was the effect of sorrow and repent-
ance. The next morning I sent a party round by the sea
shore, with directions to walk up the valley and bury the
bodies of our unfortunate companions. The two men who had
accompanied me were of the number sent on this service ; when
they returned, I pointed out to them how disastrous our residence
had been on this fatal island, and how much better it had been
for us if we had continued our course to Rio Janeiro, which being
only two hundred and fifty or two hundred and sixty leagues dis-
tant, we should by that time nearly have reached : that we were
now expending the most valuable part of our provisions, namely
— our spirits and tobacco ; while our boat, our only hope and
resource, was not even in safety, since a gale of wind might
destroy her. I therefore proposed to make immediate prepara-
tions for our departure, to which all unanimously agreed.

We divided the various occupations ; some went to fetch a
sea stock of young birds, which were killed and dressed to save
our salt provisions ; others filled all our water-casks. Captain
Green superintended the rigging, sails, and oars of the boat,
and saw that everything was complete in that department. The
spirits remaining were getting low, and Captain Green, the
midshipman, and myself, agreed to drink none, but reserve it
for pressing emergencies. In three days after beginning our
preparations, and the seventh after our landing, we embarked,
and after being nearly swamped by the surf, once more hoisted
our sail on the wide waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

We were not destined, however, to encounter many aangers

this time, or to reach the coast of South America : for we had
not been many hours at sea, when a vessel hove in sight ; she
proved to be an American privateer brig, of fourteen guns and
one hundred and thirty men, bound on a cruise off the Cape of
Good Hope. As soon as she perceived us, she bore down, and
in half an hour we were safe on board ; when having bundled all
our little stock of goods on her decks, the boat was cut adrift.
My men were not well treated until they consented to enter for
the privateer, which, after much persuasion and threats, they all
did, except Thompson, contrary to my strongest remonstrances,
and urging every argument in my power to dissuade them from
such a fatal step.

FRANK MILDMAY. 213

I remonstrated with the captain of the privateer, on what I
deemed a violation of hospitality. "You found me," I said,
"on the wide ocean, in a fraii boat, which some huj^e wave
niig;ht liave overwhelmed in a moment, or some fish, in sport,
might have tossed in the ai„". You received me and my people
with all the kindness and friendship which we could desire ; but
you niar it, by seducing- the men from their allegiance to their
lawful sovereig-n, inducing- them to become rebels, and subjecting
them to a capital punishment whenever they may (as they most
probably will) fall into the hands of their own government."

The captain, who was an unpolished, but sensible, clear-
headed Yankee, replied, that he was sorry 1 should take any-
thing ill of him ; that no affront was meant to me ; that he had
nothing whatever to do with my men, until they came voluntarily
to him, and entered for his vessel ; that he could not but admit,
however, that they might have been persuaded to take this step
by some of his own people. "And now, leftenant," said he,
" let me ask you a question. Suppose you commanded a Bri-
tish vessel, and ten or twelve of my men, if I was unlucky
enough to be taken by you, should volunteer for your ship, and
say they were natives of Newcastle, would you refuse them ?
Besides, before we went to war with you, you made no ceremony
of taking men out of our merchant-ships, and even out of our
ships of war, whenever you had an opportunity. Now, pray,
where is the difference between your conduct and ours ? "

I replied, that it would not be very easy, nor, if it were,
would it answer any good purpose, for us to discuss a question
that had puzzled the wisest heads, both in his country and mine,
for the last twenty years ; that my present business was a case
of its own, and must be considered abstractedly; that the for-
tune of war had thrown me in his 'power, and that he made a
bad use of the temporary advantage of his situation, by allow-
ing my men, wlio, after all, were poor, ignorant creatures, to be
seduced from their duty, to desert their flag, and commit high
treason, by wljich their lives were forfeited and their families
rendered miserable ; that whatever might have been the conduct
of his government or mine, whatever line pursued by this or that
captain, no precedent could make wrong right ; and I left it to
himself (seeing I had no other resource) to say, whether he was
doing as he would be done by.

"As for that matter," said tlie captain, "we privateersmen
don't trouble our heads much ab'Hit it; we always take care of
number one ; and if your men choose to say they are natives of
Boston, and will enter for my ship, 1 must take them. Why,"
continued he, "there is your best man, Thompson; I'd lay a
demijohn of old Jamaica rum that he is a true-blooded

2H FRANK MILDMAY.

Yankee, and if he was to speak his mind, would soon'*r fight
under the stripes than the union."

" D — n the dog that says yon of Jock Thompson," replied the
Caledonian, who stood by. " I never deserted my colours yet, and
I don't think I ever shall There is only one piece of advice I
would wish to g-ive to you and your officers, captain. I am a civil-
spoken-man, and never injured any soul breathing, except in the
way of fair fig-hting ; but if either of you, or any of your crew, offer
to bribe me, or in any way to make me turn my back on my king
and country, Til lay him on his back as flat as a flounder, if I am
able ; and if I am not able, I'll try for it."

" That's well spoken," said the captain, *' and I honour you for
it. You may rely on it that I shall never tempt you, and if any of
mine do it, they must take their chance."

Captain Green heard all this conversation; he took no part
in it, but walked the deck in. his usual pensive manner. "When
the captain of the privateer went below to work his reckoning,
this unhappy man entered into conversation with me — he began
by remarking—

" What a noble specimen of a British sailor you have with
you."

"Yes," I replied, "he is one of the right sort — he comes
from the land where the education of the poor contributes to
the security of the rich ; where a man is never thought the
worse offer reading his Bible, and where the generality of the
lower orders are brought up in the honest simplicity of primitive
Christians."

"I guess," said Green, '* that you have not many such in your
navy."

" More than you would suppose," I replied; "and what will
astonish you is, that though they are impressed, they seldom,
if ever, desert ; and yet they are retained on much lower wages
than those they were taken from, or could obtain ; but they
have a high sense of moral and religious feeling, which keeps
them to their duty."

"They must needs be discontented, for all that," said Green.

" Not necessarily so," said I : " they derive many advantages
from being in the navy, which they could not have in other em-
ployments. They have pensions for long services or wounds, are
always taken care of in their old age, and their widows and
children have much favour shown them, by the government, as
well as by other public bodies and wealthy individuals. Hut we
must finish this discussion another time," continued I, " for I
perceive the dinner is going into the cabin."

I received from the captain of the privateer every mark of
respect and kindness tjiat h.is inr>ans would allow. Much of this

FRANK MILDMAY. 21=;

I owed to Green, and the black man Mungo, both of whom
had represented my conduct in saving the life of him who had
endangered mine and that of all my party. Green's gratitude
knew no bounds — he watched me night and day, as a mother
would watch a darling child ; he anticipated any want or wish
I could have, and was never happy until it was gratified. The
seamen on board the vessel were all equally kind and attentive to
me, so highly did they appreciate the act of saving the life of their
countryman, and exposing my own in quelling a mutiny.

^\'e cruised to the southward of the Cape, and made one or two
captures ; but they were of little consequence. One of them,
being a trader from Mo;^ambique, was destroyed ; the other, a
slaver from Madagascar, the captain knew not what to do with.
He therefore took out eight or ten of the stoutest male negroes to
assist in woiking his vessel, and then let the prize go.

CHAPTER XX.

But who is tliis ? AMiat tiling of sea

Comes this way sailing,

Like a stately ship

AVith all her bravery on, and tackle trim ?

Milton.

The privateer was called the Truc-blonded Yankee. She was
first bound to the island of Tristan d'Acunha, where she expected

to mnet her consort, belonging to the same owners, and who had
preceded h^r, when their directions were to cruise between the
Cape and Madagascar, for certain homeward bound extra India-
men, one or two of which she ho]:)cd would reward all the trouble
and expense of tlio outfit.

We reached the island wilhout any material incident. I had
observed, with concern, that the second mate, whose name was
Peleg Oswald, was a sour, ferocious, quarrelsome man ; and
that although I was kindly treated by the captain, whose name
was Peters, and by tlie chief mate, whose name was Methu-
salem Solomon, I never could conciliate the good-will of Peleg

Oswlad.

Green, the captain, who came witli me, was, from the time I
saved his life, an altered man. lie had been, as I was informed,
a drunken profligate ; Ijut from tlie monnMit when i received him
into mv bo;!t, his manners and haiiits seemed as completely
changed as if he were a different being. He never drank more
than was suOiciont to ciuench his thirst- die never swore — he never

2i6 FRANK MILDMAY.

used any offensive lang^uage. He read the Scriptures constantly,
was regular in the morning" and evening- devotion, and on every
occasion of quarrel or ill-will in the brig-, which was perpetually
occurring, Green was the umpire and the peacemaker. He saved
the captain and chief mate a world, of trouble ; by this system,
violent language became uncommon on board, punishment was
very rare, and very mild. The men were happy, and did their
duty with alacrity ; and but for Peleg Oswald, all would have been
harmony.

We made the island about the 15th of December, when the
weather was such as the season of the year might induce us to
expect, it being then summer. We hove off to the north or
windward side of the island, about two miles from the shore ; we
dared not go nearer on that side, for fear of what are called the
'* Rollers ** — a phenomenon, it would appear, of terrific magnitude,
on that sequestered little spot. On this extraordinary operation
of nature, many conjectures should have been offered, but no good
or satisfactory reason has ever been assigned to satisfy my mind ;
for the simple reason, that the same causes would produce the
same effect on St. Helena, Ascension, or any other island or
promontory exposed to a wide expanse of water. I shall attempt
to describe the scene that a succession of rollers would present,
supposing, what has indeed happened, that a vessel is caught on
the coast when coming in.

The water will be perfectly smooth — not a breath of wind
— when, suddenly, from the north, comes rolling a huge wave with
a glassy surface, never breaking till it meets the resistance of the
land, when it dashes down with a noise and a- resistless violence
that no art or effort of man could elude. It is succeeded by others.
No anchorage would hold, if there were anchorage to be had ; but
this is not the case ; the water is from ninety to one hundred
fathoms deep, and, consequently, an anchor and cable could
scarcely afford a momentary check to any ship when thus assailed ;
or, if it did, the sea would, by being resisted, divide, bieik on
board, and swamp her. Such was the fate of the unfort mate

, a British sloop of war ; which, after landing the captain and

six men, was caught in the rollers, driven on shore, and every
creature on board perished, only the captain and his boat's crew
escaping. This unfortunate little vessel was lost, not from want
of skill or seamanship in the captain or crew, for a iiner set of men
never swam salt water ; but from their ignorance of this peculiarity
of the island, unknown in any other that I ever heard of, at least
to such an alarming extent. Driven close into the land before she
could find soundings, at last she let go three anchors ; but nothing
could withstand the force of the "rollers," which drove her in
upon the beach^ where she broke in two as soon .as she landed,

FRANlC MILDMAY. 217

and all hands perished in sight of the affected captain and his
boat's crew, who buried the bodies of their unfortunate shipmates
as soon as the sea had delivered them up.

There is another remarkable peculiarity in this island : its
shores to a very considerable extent out to sea are surrounded
with the plant called Fucus TJtaximus, mentioned by Captain
Cook ; it grows to the depth of sixty fathoms, or one hundred and
eighty feet, and reaches in one long stem to the surface, wl^en it
continues to run along to the enormous length of three or four
hundred feet, with short alternate branches at every foot of its
length Thus, in the stormy ocean grows a plant higher and of
greater length than any vegetable production of the surface of the
earth, not excepting the banyan tree, which, as its branches touch
the ground, takes fresh root, and may be said to form a separate
tree. These marine plants resist the most powerful attacks of the
mightiest elements combined; the winds andthewaves invaincom-
bine their forces ag'ainst them ; uniting their foJiage on the bosom
of the waters, they laugh at the hurricane and defy its power. The
leaves are alternate ; and when th.e wind ruffles the water, they
flap over, one after the other, with a mournful sound, doubly
mournful to us from the sad association of ideas and the loneli-
ness of the island. The branches or tendrils of these plants are
so strong and buoyant, when several of them happen to unite, that
a boat cannot pass through them ; I tried with my feet what pres-
sure they would bear, and I was convinced that, wl.h a pair of
snow-shoes, a man might walk over them*

Captain Peters kindly invited me to go on shore with him.
We landed with much difficulty, and proceeded to the cottage of
a man who had been left there from choice; he resided with his
family, and, in imitation of another great personage on an island
to the northward of him, styled himself *' Emperor." A detach-
ment of British soldiers had been sent from the Cape of Good
Hope to take possession of this spot, but after a time they were
withdrawn. "

His present imperial majesty had, at the time of my visit, a
black consort, and many snuff-coloured princes and princesses.
He was in other respects a perfect Robinson Crusoe : he had
a few head of cattle, and some pigs : these latter have greatly
multiplied on the island. Domestic fowls were numerous, and he
had a large piece of ground planted with potatoes, the only place
south of the equator which produces them in their native per-
fection. The land is rich and susceptible of great improvement ;
and the soil is intersected with numerous running springs over its
surface. But it was impossible to lo.ok on this lonely spot without
recalling to mind the beautiful lines of "Cowper —

2i8 FRANK MiLOMAY.

" O Soliluile, whore are the di:inus

That .saycs have seen in thy face ? "

Yet in this wild place alarms and even rebellion had found
their way ; the emperor had but one subject, and this Caliban had
ventured, in direct violation of an imperial niaudale, to kill a fowl
for his diuner.

" Rebellion," said the enraged emperor, " is the son of
witchcraft, and I am determined to make an example of the
offender."

I became the mediator between these two bellif^crents. I
represented to his imperial majesty that, as far as tiie matter of
example went, the severity would lose its effect ; for his children
were as yet too youn,::^ to be corrupted; and, moreover, as his
majesty was so well versed in Scripture, lie must know that it was
his duty to fory"ive. " Besides,'' I said, "her majesty the queen
has a strong arm, and can always assist in repelling or chastising
any future act of ag^a'ession or disobedience." 1 suspect that the
!noral code of his majesty was not unlike mv own : it yielded to
the necessities of the time, lie must have found it particularly
inconvenient not to be on speaking terms with his prime minister
and arch-chancellor, whom he had banislied to the o})posite side
of the island on pain of death. The sentence was originally for
six months ; but on my intercession the delinquent was pardoned
and restored to favour. I felt much self-complacency when I re-
flected on this successful instance of my mediatorial power, which
had perhaps smothered a civil war in its birth.

The emperor informed me that an American whaler was lying
at the east side of the island, filling with the oil of the walrus, or
sea-horse ; that she had been there at anchor sixwe.eks, and was
nearly full. I asked to be shown to the spot where the — was
wrecked ; he took me to her sad remains. She lay broken in
pieces on the rocks ; and not far from her was a mound of earth,
on which was placed a painted piece of board by way of a tomb-
stone. The fate of the vessel, together with the number of
sufferers, were marked in rude but concise characters ; I do not
exactly remember the words, but in substance it stated, that
underneath lay the remains of one hundred as fine fellows as
ever walked a plank, and that they had died like British sea-
men, doing their duty to the last. This was a melancholy
sight, especially to a sailor, who knew not how soon the same fate
awaited liim.

\Vc rafted off several casks of waier during that day, and on
the following we completed our waiter, and tln-n ran to the east
end of the island to anchor near and wait for our consort, the

FRANK MILDIUAY. 219

whaler, the captain of which had come in his boat to visit us :
I conveirsed with him, and was struck with one remark which he
made.

" You Englishmen go to work in a quecrish kind of way, ' said
he ; " you send a parcel of soldiers to Jive on an island where none
but sailors can be of use. You listen to all that those red-
coats tell you ; they never thrive when placed out of musket-
shot from a gin-shop: and because ^/zey don't like it, you
evacuate the island. A soldier likes his own comfort, although
very apt to destroy that of other folks ; and it a'n't very likely he
would go and make a good report of an island that had neither
women nor rum, and where he "was no better than a prisoner.
Now, if Brother Jonathan had taken this island, I guess he would
a' made it pay for its keep ; he would have had two or three crews
of whalers, with their wives and families, and all their little com-
forts about them, with a party of good farmers to till the land, and
an ofticer to command the whole. The island can provide itself,
as you may perceive, and all would have gone on well. It is just
as easy to ' fish ' the island from the shore as it is in a vessel,
and indeed much easier. Only land your boilers and casks, and
a coiii^lc of dozen good whale-boots, and this island would pro-
duce a revenue that would repay with prolit all the money laid out
upon it, for the sea-horses have no other place to go to, either to
shed their coats in the autumn, or bring forth their young in the
spring. The fishing and other duties would be a source of amuse-
ment to the sailors, who, if they chose, might return home
occasionally in the vessels that came to take away the full casks
of oil, and land the empty ones."

The captain of the whaler returned to his ship, but, I suppose,
forgot to give our captain very particular directions about the
anchorage. We ran down to the east end of the island, and were
just going to bring up, when, supposing himself too near the
whaler, Peterschose torun a little further. I shouldhave observed,
that as we rounded the north-east point, the breeze freshened, and
the squall came out of the gullies and deep ravines. We there-
fore shortened sail, and, passing very near the whaler, they hailed
us ; but it blew so fresh that we did not hear what they said ; and,
having increased our distance from the whaler to what was judged
proper, let go the anchor.

Ninety fathoms of cable ran out in a crack, before she turned
head to wind; and to our mortification, wc found we had passed
the bank upon which the whaler had brouglit up, and must have
dropped our anchor into a well, for we had nineteen fathoms water
under the bows, and only seven fathoms under her stern. The
moon showed her face just at this moment, and we had the further
satisfaction of perceiving that we were within fifty yards of a reef

220 FRANK MILDMAV. .

of rocks which lay astern of us, with their dirty black heads above
water. ^^

We were very much surprised to find, notwithstanding the depth
of water, that, during the lulls, we rode with a slack cable ; but
about two o^clock in the morning the cable parted, being cut by
the foul ground. All sail was made immediately, but the rocks
astern were so close to us, that you might have thrown a biscuit
on them, and we thought the cruise of the 2riie-b loaded Yankee
was at an end ; but it proved otherwise, for the same cause which
produced the slack cable preserved the vessel. ' The Fiicits
vmximifs, we found, had interposed between us and destruction ;
we liad let go our anchor in this submarineforest,andhad perched,
as it were, on the tops of the trees ; and so thick were the leaves
and branches, that they held us from driving, and prevented our
going on shore when the cable had parted. We dragged slowly
through the plants, and were very glad to see ourselves once more
clear of this miserable spot.

** Better dwell in the midst of alarms,
Than reign in this horrible place."

But I sincerely wish all manner of success to this little empire,
though I hope my evil stars will never take me to it again. We
shaped our course for the Cape of Good Hope, for Captain
Peters would not run further risk in waiting for the consort
privateer.

Poor Thompson, notwithstanding all my exertions in his favour,
was exposed to much ill-treatment on board the vessel, on-account
of his firm and unshaken loyalty. He seldom complained to me,
but sometimes vindicated himself by a gentle hint from one of his
ample fists on the nose or eye of the offender, and here the matter
usually ended, for his character was so simple and inoffensive,
that all the best men in the vessel loved him. One night a man
fell overboard — the weather was fine, and the brig had but little
way ; they were lowering down the jolly-boat from the stern, when
one of the hooks by which she hung by the stern, broke, and four
men were precipitated with violence into the water. Two of them
could not swim, and all screamed loudly for help as soon as they
came up from their dive. Thompson, seeing this, darted from the
stern like a Newfoundland dog, swam to the weakest, supported
him to the rudder chains, and, leaving him, went to another,
bringing him to the stern of the vessel, and making a rope fast
under his arms In this way he succeeded in saving the whole of
these j)oor fellows. Two of the five would certainly have sunk
but for his timely assistance, for it was some time before another
boat could be got ready ; and the other three owned that they

FRANK MILDMAY. 221

much doubted whether they could have reached the vessel with-
out help.

This conduct of Thompson was much applauded by all on
board, and some asked him why he ventured his life for people
who had used him so ill ; be answered, that his " mither " and
his Bible taught him to do all the good he could : and as God had
g;iven him a strong- arm, he hoped he should always use it for the
benefit of his brother in need.

It might have been supposed that an act like this would have
prevented the recurrence of any further insult ; but the more
the Americans perceived Thompson's value, the more eager
were they to have him as their own. The second mate, whom
I have already described as a rough and brutal fellow, one day
proposed to him to belong to their vessel, certain, he added,
that he would make his fortune by the capture of two, if not
three, extra Indiamen, which they had information of on their
passage.

Thompson looked the man fully in the face, and said, " Did ye
no hear what I telled the captain the ither day? "

"Yes," said the man, " I knew that, but that's what we call
in our country ' all my eye.* *'

"But they do not call it so in my country/' said the Cale-
donian, at the same time planting his fist so full and plump in
the left eye of the mate, that he fell like the " /lumi dos/' cover-
ing a very large part of the deck with his huge carcass.

The man got up, found his face bleeding plentifully, and his
eye closed ; but instead of resenting the insult himself, went off
and complained to the captain. Many of the Americans, either
from hatred or jealousy, went along with him, and clamorously
demanded that the Englishman should be punished for striking
an officer. ■• When the story, however, came to be fairly ex-
plained, the captain said he was bound to confess that the
second mate was the aggressor, inasmuch as he had acknow-
ledged that he knew the penalty of the transgression before he
committed the act ; that he (the captain) had told Thompson,
when he made the declaration, that he thought him perfectly
right, and, consequently, he was bound to protect him by every
law of hospitality as well as gratitude, after his services in
saving the lives of their countrymen.

This did not satisfy the crew ; they were clamorous for pun-
ishment, and a mutiny was actually headed by the second mate.
There was, however, a large party on board who were in no
humour to see an Englishman treated with such indignity. Of
what country they were may readily be conjectured. The dis-
pute ran high ; and I began to think that serious consequences
frnight ensue^ for it had continued from the servings of ^rog at

222 FRANK MILDMAY.

twelve o'clock till near two ; when casting- my eyes over the
larboard quarter, I perceived a sail, and told the captain of it;
he instantly hailed the look-out-man at the mast-head ; but the
look-out-man had been so much interested with what was going
on upon deck, that he had come down into the maintop to
listen.

*' Don't you see that sail on the larboard quarter?" said the
captain.

** Yes, sir," said the man.

" And why did you not report her ? "

The man could make no reply to this question, for a very
obvious reason.

"Come down here," said the captain; 'Met him be released,
Solomon ; we will show you a little Yankee discipline."

But before we proceed to the investigation of the crime, or
the infliction of punishment, we must turn our eyes to the .threat
object which rose clearer and clearer every tive minutes above
the horizon. The privateer was at this time under topsails, and
top-oallant-sails, jib, and foresail, running to the north-east, with
a iine breeze and smooth water.

" Lcftenant," said the captain, " what do you think of
her?"

"I think," said I, ^*that she is an extra Indiaman ; and if
you mean to speak her, you had better put your head towards
her under an easy sail ; by which means you will be so near by
sunset, that if she runs from 3'ou, you will be able, with your
superior sailing-, to keep sight of her all night."

** I guess you are not far wrong in that," said the captain.

" I guess he is directly in the face of the truth," said the
chief mate, who had just returned from the maintop, where he
had spent the last quarter of an hour in the most intense and
absorbed attention to the cut of the stransfcr's sails. " If e'er I
saw wood and canvas put together before in the shape of a
ship»tliat there is one of John Bull's bellowing calves of the
ocean, and not less than a forty-four gunner."

" What say you to that, leftcnant ? " said the captain.

" Oh, as to that," said the mate, ** it isn't very likely that he's
going to tell us the truth."

"Because you would not have done it yourself in the same
situation," said I.

" Just so," said the mate.

And, in fact, I must own that I had no particular wish to
cruise for some months in this vessel, and go back for water at
Tristan d'Acunha. I therefore flid not use my verv best optical
skill when I gave my opinion ; but as I saw the stranger was
nearing us very fast, although we were st<*ering the same way-

FRANK MILDMAY. 223

I made my mmd up that I should very soon be out of this
vessel, and on my way to England, where all my happiness and
prospects were centred.

The chief mate took one more look — the captain followed
liis example; they then looked at each other, and pronounced
their cruise at an end.

** We are done, sir," said the mate ; " and all owing to that
d — d English renegade that you would enter on the books as one
of the ship's company. But let's have him aft, and give him
his discharge regularly."

" Eirst of all," said the captain, ''suppose we try what is to
be done with our heels. They used to be good, and I never
saw the brass-bottomed sarpent that could come anear us yet.
Send the royal yards up — clear away the studding-sails — keep
her with the wind just two points abaft the beam, that's her
favourite position ; and I think we may give the slip to that
old-country devil in the course of the night."

I said nothing, but looked very attentively to all that was
doing. The vessel was well manned, certainly, and all sail was
set upon her in a very expeditious manner.

" Heave the log," said the captain.

They did so ; and she was going, by their measurement, nine
and six.

'* What do you think your ship is doing ? " said the captain to

me.

"I think/' said I, '*she is going about eleven knots; and, as
she is six miles astern of you, that she will be within gunshot in
less than four hours."

" Part of that time shall be spent in paying our debts for this
favour," said the captain. '* Mr. Solomon, let them seize that
no-nation rascal up to the main rigging, and hand up two of
your most hungry cats. Where is Dick Twist, he that was
boatswain's mate of the Statira ; and that red-haired fellow,
you know, that swam away from the Maidstone in the Roppa-
hanock 1 "

"You mean carroty Sam, I guess — pass the word for Sam
Gall."

The two operators soon appeared, each armed with the in-
struments of his office ; and I must say that in malignity of
construction they were equal to an'ything used on similar occa-
sions, even by Captain G . The culprit was now brought

forward, and to my surprise, it was the very man whom
Ti]ompson, when in the boat had thrown overboard for
mutiny. 1 cannot say that 1 felt sorry for the cause or the
effect that was likely to be produced by the disputes of the
day.

224 FRANK MILDMAY.

"beize him up," said the captain; '*yoij were sent to the
mast-head in your regular turn of duty; and you liave neglected
that duty, by which means we are likely to be taken : so, before
my authority ceases, I will show you a Yankee trick."

*' I am an Englishman," said the man; "and appeal to my
ofBcer for protection."

The captain looked at me.

"If I am the officer you appeal to," said I, "I donot
acknowledge you. You threw off your allegiance when you
thought it suited your purpose, and you now wish to resume it
to screen yourself from a punishment which you richly deserve.
I shall certainly not interfere in your favour."

"I was born," roared the cockney, "in Earl Street, Seven
Dials — my mother keeps a tripe-shop — I am a true-born Briton,
and you have no right to Hog me."

" You was a Yankee sailor from New London, yesterday, and
you are a tripe-seller from Old London to-day ; 1 think I am
right in calling- you a no-nation rascal : but we will talk about
the right another time," said the captain; "meanwhile Dick
Twist, do you begin."

Twist obeyed his orders with skill and accuracy ; and having
given the prisoner three dozen that would not have disgraced
the legerdemain of my friend the Farnese Hercules in the brig,
Sam Gall was desired to take his turn. Sam acquitted himself
a fner'veille with the like number ; and the prisoner after a due
proportion of bellowing was cast loose. I could not help re-
flecting how VQi"^ jt^stly this captain had got his vessel into
jeopardy by first allowing a man io be seduced from his alle-
giance, and then placing confidence in him.

"Let us now take a look at the chase," said the captain.
"Zounds, she draws up with us. I can see her bowsprit-cap
when she lifts; and half an hour ago I only saw her foreyard.
Cut away the jolly-boat from the stern, Solomon."

The chief mate took a small axe, and, with a steady blow at
the end of each davit, divided the falls, and the boat fell into
the sea.

"Throw these here two aftermost guns overboard," said the
captain ; " 1 guess we are too deep abaft, and they would not be
of much use to us in the way of defence, for this is a whopper
that's after us."

The guns in a few minutes were sent to their last rest; and for
the next half hour the enemy gained less upon them. It was now
about half-past three P.M. ; the courage of the. Yankees revived ;
and the second mate reminded the captain that his black eye
had not been reckoned for at the main rigging,

"Nor shaU it be*" said th« raptain, " >yhi]l«g I command th0

FRANK MILDMAY. 225

T^ue-hlooded Yankee; what is, is right ; no man shall be
punished for fair defence after warning. Thompson, come and
stand aft."

The man was in the act of obeying this order, when he was
seized on by some six or eight of the most turbulent, who began
to tear off his jacket.

"Avast there, shipmates!" said Twist and Gall, both in
a breath. "We don't mind touching up such a chap as this
here tripeman ; but not the scratch of a pin does Thompson
get in this vessel. He is one of us; he is a seaman every inch
of him, and you must flog us, and some fifty more, if once
you begin ; for d — n my eyes if we don't heave the log with
the second mate, and then lay-to till the frigate comes along-
side."

The mutineers stood aghast for a few seconds ; but the second
mate, jumping on a gun, called out, " Who's of our side ? Are
we going to be bullied by these d — d Britishers ? "

"You are," said I, "if doing an act of justice is bullying.
You are in great danger, and I warn you of it. I perceive the
force of those whom you pretend to call Americans; and
though I am the last man in the world to sanction an act of
treachery by heaving the ship to, yet I caution you to beware
how you provoke the bull-dog, who has only broke his master's
chain 'for a lark,' and is ready to return to him. I am your
guest, and therefore your faithful friend ; use your utmost
endeavours to escape from your enemy. I know what she is, for
I know her well; and, if 1 am not much mistaken, you have
scarcely more time, with all your exertions, than to pack up your
things ; for, be assured, you will not pass twelve hours more
under your own flag."

'Jhis address had a tranquillizing effect. The captain, Captain
Green, and Solomon, walked aft; and, to their great dismay, saw
distinctly the water-line of the pursuing frigate.

" What can be done ? " said the captain : " she has gamed on
us in this manner, while the people were all aft settling that
infernal dispute. Throw two more of the after guns over-
board."

This order was obeyed with the same celerity as the former, but
not with the same success. The captain now began to perceive,
what was pretty obvious to me before, namely, that by dropping
the boat from the extreme end of the vessel, where it hung like
the pea on the steelyard, he did good ; the lightening her also of
the two aftermost guns, ' hanging over the dead wood of the
vessel, was in like manner serviceable. But here he should have
stopped; the effect of throwing the next two guns overboard was
pernicious. The vessel fell by the head ; her stern was out of the

226 FRANK MILDMAY.

water ; she steered wild, yawed, and decreased in her rate of
sailing" in a surprising" manner.

" Cut away the bower anchors," said the captain.

The stoppers were cut, and the anchors dropped ; the brig"
immediately recovered herself from her oppression, as it were,
and resumed her former velocity; but the enemy had by this
time made fearful approaches. The only hope of the captain
and his crew was in the darkness ; and as this darkness came
on, my spirits decreased, for I greatly feared that we should
have escaped. The sun had sunk some time below the horizon :
the cloud of sail coming up astern of us began to be indistinct,
and at last disappeared altogether in a black squall : we saw no
more of her for nearly two hours.

I walked the deck with Green and the captain. The latter
seemed in great perturbation : he had hoped to make his fortune,
and retire from the toils and cares of a sea-life in some snug"
corner of the Western settlements, where he might cultivate a
little farm, and lead the life of an honest man; "for this life,"
said he, " I am free to confess, is, after all, little better than
highway robbery."

Whether the moral essay of the captain was the effect of his
present danger, I will not pretend to say. I only know, that if
the reader will turn back to some parts of my histor}', he will
find me very often in a similar mood on similar occasions.

The two captains and the chief mate now retired, after leaving
me meditating by myself over the larboard gunwale, just before
the main rigging. The consultation seemed to be of great
moment ; and, as I afterwards learned, was to decide what
course they should steer, seeing that they evidently lost sight of
their pursuer. I felt all my hopes of release vanish as I looked at
them, and had made up my mind to go to New York.

At this moment, a man came behind me, as if io get a pull at
the top-gallant sheets ; and while he hung down upon it with a
kind of *' yeo-ho," he whispered in my ear—'* You may have the
command of the brig if you like. We are fifty Englishmen — we
will heave her to and hoist a light, if you will only say the word,
and promise us our free pardon."

I pretended at first not to hear, but, turning round, I saw
Mr. Twist.

"Hold, villain!" said I; "do you think to redeem one act
of treachery by another ? and do you dare to insult the honour
of a naval officer with a proposal so infamous ? Go to your
station instantly, and think yourself fortunate that I do not
denounce you to the captain, who has a perfect right to throw
you overboard— a fate which your chain of crimes fully
deserves."

FRANK MILDMAY. 227

The man skulked away, and I went off to the captain, to whom
I related the circumstance, desiring- him to be on his guard
against treachery.

'* Your conduct, sir," said the captain, "is what I should have
expected from a British naval officer ; and since you have
behaved so honourably, I will freely tell you that my intention is
to shorten sail to the topsails and foresail, and haul dead on a
wind into that dark squall to tlic southward."'

"As you please," said I; "you cannot expect that I should
advise, nor would you believe me if I said I wished you success ;
but rely on it I will resist, by every means in my power, any
unfair means to dispossess you of your command."

" I thank you, sir," said the captain, mournfully ; and, without
losing any more time in useless words, "Shorten sail there,"
continued he, with a low but firm voice; "take in the lower and
topmost studding-sail — hands aloft — in top-gallant studding-sails,
and roll up the top-gallant sails."

All this appeared to be done with surprising speed, even to me,
who had been accustomed to very well conducted ships of war.
One mistake, however, was made ; the lower studding--sail,
instead of being hauled in on deck, was let to fall overboard, and
towed sometime under the larboard bow before it was reported to
the ofticers.

" Haul in the larboard braces — brace sharp up — port the helm
and bring her to the wind, quarter-master."

" Port it is, sir," said the man at the helm, and the vessel was
close hauled upon the starboard tack ; but she did not seem to
move very fast, although she had a square mainsail, boom main-
sail, and jib.

" I think we have done them at last," said the captain ; "what
do you think, leftenant ? " giving" me a hearty but very friendly
slap on the back. "Come, what say; shall we take a cool
bottle of London particular after the fatigues of the day?"

"Wait a little," said I, "wait a little."

"What are you looking at there to windward?" said the
captain, who perceived that my eye was fixed on a particular

point.

Before I had time to answer, Thompson came up to me and
said, " There is the ship, sir," pointing to the very spot on which
I was gazing". The captain heard this ; and, as fear is ever
quicksighted, he instantly caught the object.

" Running is of no use now," said he ; "we have tried her off
the wind, our best going ; she beats us at that: and on a wind,
I don't think so much of her; but still, with this smooth water
and fine breeze, she ought to move belter. Solomon, there is
something wrong, give a look all round."

228 FRANK MILDMAY.

Solomon went forward on the starboard side, but saw nothing*.
As he looked over the gangway and bow, coming round on the
lee side of the forecastle, he saw some canvas hanging on one of
the night-heads. "What have we here?" said he. No one
answered. He looked over the fore-chains, and found the whole
lower studuing-sail towing in the water.

**No wonder she don't move," said the mate; "here is
enough to stop the Constitution herself. Who took in this here
lower studding-sail? — But, never mind, we'll settle that to-
morrow. Come over here, you forecastle men."

Some of the Americans came over to him, but not with very
great alacrity. The sail could not be pulled in, as the vessel had
too much way ; and while they were ineffectually employed about
it, the Hash of a gun was seen to windward ; and as the report
reached our ears, the shot whistled over our heads, and darted
like lightning through the boom mainsail.

" Hurrah for old England ! " said Thompson; " the fellow that
hred that shot shall drink my allowance of grog to-morrow."

" Hold your tongue, you d^d English rascal," said the second
mate, " or I'll stop your grog for ever."

*' 1 don't think you will," said the North Briton, " and if you
take a friend's advice, you won't try." Thompson was standing
on the little round-house or poop ; the indignant mate jumped up
and collared him. Thompson disengaged him in the twinkling of
an eye, and with one blow of his right hand in the pit of the
man's stomach, sent him reeling over to leeward. He fell — caught
at the boom-sheet — missed it, and tumbled into the sea, from
whence he rose no more.

All was now confusion. " A man overboard ! "—another
shot from the frigate — another and another in quick succession.
The fate of the man was forgotten in the general panic. One
shot cut the aftermost main-shroud; another went through the
boat on the booms. The frigate was evidently very near us.
The men all rushed down to seize their bags and chests ; the
captain took me by the hand, and said, " Sir, I surrender
myself to you, and give you leave now to act as you think
proper."

"Thompson," said I, " let go the main-sheet and the main-
brace." RuMuing forward myself, I let go the main-tack, and
bowlines ; ihe niainyard came square of itself. Thompson got a
lantern, which he held up on the starboard quarter. a

The frigate passed close under the stern, showing a beautiful
pale side, with a line tier of guns ; and, hailing us, desired to know
what vessel it was.

1 replied that it was the True-blooded Yankee, of Boston — that
she had hove to and surrendered.

FRANK MILDMAY. 229

CHAPTER XXI.

*' It is not," says Blake, " the business of a seaman to mind state affairs,
but to hinder foreigners from foohng iis."

Dr. Johnson's '* Life of Blake."

The frigate came to the wind close under our lee, and a boat
from her was alongside in a very few minutes. The officer who
came to take possession leaped up the side, and was on the deck
in a moment, I received him, told him in few words what the
vessel was, introducing the captain and Green, both of whom I
recommended to his particular notice and attention for the kind-
ness they had shown to me. I then requested he would walk down
into the cabin, leaving a midshipman whom he brought with him
in charge of the deck, and who, in the mean while, he directed to
haul the mainsail up, and make the vessel snug. The prisoners
were desired to pack up their things, and be ready to quit in one
hour.

, When lights were brought into the cabin, the lieutenant and
myself instantly recognized each other.

" Bless my soul, Frank." said he, " what brought you here ? "

"That," said I, "is rather a longer story than could be con-
veniently told before to-morrow ; but may I ask what ship has

taken the Yankee ? I conclude it is the J? ■ ; and what rank

does friend Talbot hold in her ? "

"The frigate," said he, *' is the R , as you conjectured.

We are on the Cape station. I am first of her, and sent out here
on promotion for the afiair of Basque roads."

"Hard, indeed," said I, "that you should have waited so
long for what you so nobly earned; but come, we have much
to do. Let us look to the prisoners, and if you will return on
board, taking with 3^ou the captain, mate, and few of the hands,
whom I will select as the most troublesome and the most care-
less, I will do all I can to have the prize ready for making sail

by daylight, when, if Captain T will give me leave, I will

wait on him."

This was agreed to. The people whom I pointed out were put
into the boat, four of whose crew came aboard the brig to assist
me. We soon arranged everything, so as to be ready for vvhat-
ever might be required. A boat returned with a fresh supply of
hands, taking back about twenty more prisoners ; and the mid-
shipman who brought them delivered also a civil message from
the captain, to say he was glad to have the prize in such good
hands, and would expect me to breakfast with him at eight

230 FRANK MILDMAY.

o'clock ; in the mean time, he desired that as soon as I was ready
to make sail, I should signify the same by showing two lights at
the same height in the main rigging, and that we should then
keep on a wind to the northward under a plain sail. ^

This was completed by four A.M., w^ien we made the dignal,
and kept on the weather quarter of the frigate. I took a couple
of hours* sleep, was called at six, dressed myself, and prepared to
go on board at half-past seven. I heard her drum and fife beat
to quarters, the sweetest music, next to the heavenly voice of
Emily, I had ever heard. The tears rolled down my cheeks with
gratitude to God, for once more placing me under the protection
of my beloved flag. The frigate hove to ; soon after the gig was
lowered down and came to fetch me ; a clean white cloak was
spread in the stern sheets ; the men were dressed in white frocks
and trousers, as clean as hands could make them, with neat straw
hats and canvas shoes. I was seated in the boat without delay,
and my heart beat with rapture when the boatswain's mate at the
gangway piped the side for me.

I was received by the captain and officers with all the kind-
ness and affection which we lavish on each other on such occa-
sions. The captain asked me a thousand questions, and tl>e
lieutenants and midshipmen all crowded round me to hear my
answers. The ship's company were also curious to know our
history, and I requested the captain would send the gig back
for Thompson, who would assist me in gratifying the general
curiosity. This was done, and the brave, honest fellow came on
board. The first question he asked was, '* Who fired the first
shot at the prize ? "

" It was Mr. Spears, the first lieutenant of marines," said one
of the men.

*'Then Mr. Spears must have my allowance of grog for the
day," said Thompson; ** for I said it last night, and I never go
from my word."

'*That I am ready to swear to," said Captain Peters, of the
privateer; " I have known men of good resolutions, and you arc
one of them ; and I have known men of bad resolutions, and he
was one of them whom you sent last night to his long account ;
and it was fortunate for you that you did ; for as sure as you now
stand here, that man would have compassed your death, either by
dagger, by water, or by poison. I never knew or heard of the man
who had struck or injured Peleg Oswald with impunity."^ He was
a Kentucky man, of the Ohio, where he had ' squatted,' as we
say ; but he shot two men with his rifle, because they had declined
exchanging some land with him. He had gouged the eye out of
the third, for some trifling difference of opinion. These acts
obliged him to quit the country ; for not only were the officers of

FRANK MILDMAY, 231

justice in pursuit of him, but the man who had lost one eye kept
a sharp look out with the other, and Peleg- would certainly have
had a rille-bail in his ear if he had not fled eastward, and taken
again to the sea, to which he was orig-inally brought up, I did
not know all his history till long after he and I became shipmates.
He would have been ti"ied for his life ; but having made some
pri/:e-money, he contrived to buy off his prosecutors. I should
have unshipped him next cruise, if it had pleased God I had got
safe back."

While Peters was giving this little history of his departed mate,
the captain's breakfast was announced, and the two American
captains were invited to partake of it. As we went down the
ladder under the half-deck, Peters and Green could not help
casting an eye of admiration at the clean and clear deck, the style
of the guns, and perfect union of the useful and ornamental, so
inimitably blended as they are sometimes found in our ships of
war. There was nothing in the captain's repast beyond cleanliness,
plenty, liearty welcome, and cheerfulness.

The conversation turned on the nature, quality and number of
men in the privateer. " They are all seamen,'' said Peters,
" except the ten black fellows."

" Some of them, I suspect, are English," said I.

" It is not for me to peach," said the wary American, " It is
difhcult always to know whether a man who has been much in both
countries is a native of Boston in Lincolnshire, or Boston in Mas-
sachusetts ; and perhaps they don't always know themselves.
We never ask questions when a seaman ships for us.'*

"You have an abundance of our seamen both in your marine
and merchant service," said our captain

"Yes," said Green; "and we are never likely to want them,
while you impress for us."

" /^impress for you?" said Captain T ■ ; "how do you

prove that ? "

" Your impressment," said the American, "fills our ships.
Your seamen will not stand it; and for every two men you take
by force, rely on it, we get one of them as a volunteer."

Peters dissented violently from th: > proposition, and appeared
angry with Green for making th- assertion.

"I see no reason to doubt i ," said Green; "I know how
our fighting ships, as well as uur traders, are manned. I will
take my oath that more than two-thirds have run from the
British navy, because they were impressed. You yourself have
said so in my hearing, Peters — look at your crew."

Peters could stand conviction no longer; ]]e burst into the most
violent rage with Green ; said that what ougiU never to have been
owned to a British oflicer, he had let out ; that it was true that

232 FRANK MILDMAY.

America looked upon our system of impressment as the sheet-
anchor of her navy ; but he was sorry the important secret should
ever have escaped from an American.

" For my part," resumed Green, " I feel so deeply indebted to
this gallant young Englishman for his kindness to me, that I am
for ever the friend of himself and his country, and have sworn
never to carry arms against Great Britain, unless to repel an
invasion of my own country."

Breakfast ended, we all went on deck ; the ship and her prize
were lying to ; the hands were turned up ; all the boats hoisted
out, the prisoners and their luggage taken out of the prize, and,
as the crew of the privateer came on board, they were all drawn
up on the quarter-deck, and many of them known and proved to
, be Fnglishmen. When taxed and reproached for their infamous
conduct, they said it was owing to them that the privateer
had been taken, for that they had left the lower studding-sail
purposely hanging over the night-head, and towing in the water,
by which the way of the vessel had been impeded.

Captain Peters, who heard this confession, was astonished;
and the captain of the frigate observed to him, that such con-
duct was exactly-that which might be expected from any traitor
to his country. Then, turning to the prisoners, he said, " The

infamy of your first crime could scarcely have been increased;
but your treachery to the new government, under which you
had placed yourselves, renders you unworthy of the name of
men ; nor have you even the miserable merit you claim of
having contributed to the capture, since we never lost sight of
the chase from the first moment we saw her, and from the
instant she hauled her wind, we knew she was ours."

The men hung down their heads, and when dismissed to go
below, none of llie crew of the frigate would receive them into
their messes ; but the real Americans were kindly treated.

We shaped our course for Simon's Bay, where we arrived in
one week after the capture.

The admiral on the station refused to try the prisoners by a
court-martial ; he said it was rather a state question, and should
send them all to England, where the lords of the Admiralty might
dispose of them as they thought proper.

I'he True-blooded Yufikee was libelled in the Vice-Admiralty
Court at Cape Town, condemned as a lawful prize, and pur-
chased into the service ; and, being a very fine vessel of her class,
the admiral was pleased to say, that as I had been so singularly
unfortunate, he would give me the command of her as a lieu-
tenant, and send me to England with some despatches, which
had been waiting an opportunity.

This was an arrangement far more advantageous to me than

FRANK MILDMAY. 233

I could have expected ; 'but what rendered it still more agree-
able was, that my friend Talbot, who was the first to shake me
by the hand on board the prize, begged a passage home with
me, he having, by the last packet, received his commander's
commission. The admiral, at my request, also gave Captains
Peters and Green permission to go home with me. Mungo,
the black man, and Thompson, the quarter-master, with the
midshipman who had been with me in the boat, were also of
the party. My crew was none of the very best, as might be sup-
posed ; but I was not in a state to make difficulties; and, with
half a dozen of the new negroes taken out of the trader, I made
up such a ship's company as I thaught would enable me to run
to Spithead.

We laid in a good stock of provisions at the Cape, The
Americans begged to be allowed to pay their part ; but this I
positively refused, declaring myself too happy in having them
as my guests. I purchased all Captain Peters' wine and stock,
giving him the full value for it. Mungo was appointed steward,
for 1 had taken a great fancy to him; and my friend Talbot
having brought all his things on board, and the admiral having
given my final orders, I sailed from Simon's Bay to England.

There is usually but little of incident in a run home of this sort.
I was not directed to stop at St. Helena, and had no inclination
to loiter on my way. I carried sail night and day to the very
utmost. Talbot and myself became inseparable friends, and our
cabin mess was one of perfect harmony. We avoided all
national reflections, and abstained as much as possible from
politics. I made a confidant of Talbot in my love affair with
Emily. Of poor Eugenia, I had long before told him a great
deal.

One day at dinner we happened to talk of swimming. "I
think," said Talbot, "that my friend Frank is as good a hand
at that as any of us. Do you remember when you swam away
from the frigate at Spithead, to pay a visit to your friend, Mrs.
Melpomene, at Point ? "

"1 do," said I, "and also how generously you showered the
musket-balls about my ears for the same."

" Your escape from either drowning or shooting on that
occasion, among many others," said the commander, ** ri^akes
me augur something more serious of your future destiny." ^:*

"That may be," said I; "but I dispute the legality of your
act, in trying to kill me before you knew who I was, or what I
was about. I might have been mad, for what you knew; or I
might have belonged to some other ship ; but in any event,
had you killed me, and had my body been found, a coroner's

234 FRANK MILDMAY.

inquest would have gone very hard with you, and a jury still

worse."

" I should have laughed at them," said Talbot.

"You inight have found it no laughing matter," said I.

" How ! " replied Talbot ; " what are sentinels placed for, and
loaded with ball ? "

*' To defend the ship," said I ; "to give warning of approach-
ing danger ; to prevent men going out of the ship without leave ;
but never to take away the life of a man, unless in defence of
their own, or when the safety of the king's ship demands it."

" I deny your conclusions," said Talbot ; " the articles of war
denounce death to all deserters."

" True," said I, " they do, and also to many other crimes ; but
those crimes must first of all be proved before a court-martial.
Now you cannot prove that I was deserting, and if you could,
you had not the power to inflict death on me unless I was going
towards the enemy. I own I was disobeying your orders, but
even that would not have subjected me to more than a slight
punishment, while your arbitrary act would have deprived the
king", as I flatter myself, of a loyal and not useless subject ; and
if my body had not been found, no good could have accrued to
the service from the severity of example. On the contrary, many
would have supposed I had escaped, and been encouraged to
make the same attempt."

" I am very sorry noWy'' said Talbot, "that I did not lower a
boat to send after you ; however, it has been a comfort to me
since to reflect that the marines missed you."

This ended the subject : we walked the deck a little, talked of
sweethearts, shaped the course for the night to make Fayal,
which we were not far from, and then retired to our beds.

Falling into a sound sleep, it was natural that the conversa-
tion of the evening should have dwelt on my mind, and a
strange mixture of disjointed thoughts, a compound of reason
and insanity, haunted me till the morning. Trinidad and
Emily, the Nine-pin Rock, and the mysterious Eugenia, with
her supposed son, the sinking wreck, and the broken schooner,
all appeared separately or together —

" When nature rests ;
Oft, in her absence, mimic fancy wakes — "

I thought I saw Emily standing on the pinnacle of the Nine-
pin Rock, just as Lord Nelson is represented on the monument
in Dublin, or Bonaparte in that of the Place Vend6me ; but with
a grace as far superior to either as the Nine-pin Rock is in
majesty and natural grandeur to those works of human art.

FRANK MILDMAY. 235

Emily, I thought, was clad in complete mourning, but looking
radiant in health and loveliness, although with a melancholy
countenance. The dear image of my mistress ^eemed to say,
" I shall never come down from this pinnacle without your
assistance." v"Then," thinks I, " you will never come down at
all." Then 1 thought Eugenia was queen of Trinidad, and
that it was she who had placed Emily out of my reach on the
rock; and I was entreating her to let Emily come down,. when
Thompson tapped at my cabin door and told me that it was
daylight, and that they could see the island of Fayal in the north-
east, distant about seven leagues.

I dressed myself and went on deck, saw the land, and a
strange sail steering to the westward. The confounded dream
still running in my head — like Adam, " I liked it not," and yet
1 thought myself a fool for not dismissing such idle stuff; still
it would not go away. The Americans came on deck soon
after ; and, seeing the ship steering to the westward, asked if I
meant to speak her. I replied in the afiBrmative. We had then
as much sail as we could carry ; and, as she had no wish to
avoid us, but kept on her course, we were soon alongside of her.
She proved to be a cartel bound to New York with American
prisoners.

In case of meeting with any vessel bound to the United
States, the admiral had given me permission to send my pri-
soners home without carrying them to England. I had not
mentioned this either to Peters or Green, for fear of producing
disappointment ; but when I found I could dispose oi them so
comfortably, I acquainted them with my iritention. '] heir joy
and gratitude were beyond all description; they thanked me a
thousand times, as they did my friend Talbot, for our kindness

to them.

"Lieutenant," said Peters, ''I am not much accustomed to
the company of you Englishmen ; and if I have always thought
you a set of tyrants and bullies it arn't my fault. 1 believed
what I was told ; but now 1 have seen for myself, and I find the
devil is never so black as he is painted." I bowed to the
Yankee compliment. "Howsoever," he continued, •* I should
like to have a sprinkling of shot between us on fair terms. Do
you bring this here brig to our waters ; I hope to get another just
like her, and as I know you are a d — d good fellow, and would as
soon have a dust as sit down to dinner, I should like '*: .^^y to get
the command of the True-blooded Yankee again."

"If you man your next brig as you manned the last, with all your
best hands EngUshmen," said 1, " I fear I should find it no easy
matter to defend myself."

"That's as it may be," said the captain; "no man fights

236 FRANK MILDMAY.

better than he with a halter round his neck : and remember what
neighbour Green has said — for he has Met the cat out of the bag*
— we should have no Englishmen in our service if they had not
been pressed into yours."

I could make no return to this salute, because, like the gunner
at Landguard fort, I had no powder; and, in fact, I felt the
rebuke.

Green stood by, but never opened his lips until the captain had
finished ; then, holding out his hand to me, with his eyes full of
tears, and his voice almost choked, ** Farewell, my excellent
friend," said he, "I shall never forget you ; you found me a villain,
and by the blessing of God, you have made me an honest man.
Never, never shall I forget the day when, at the risk of your own
life, you came to save one so unworthy of your protection ; but
God bless you ! and if ever the fortune of war would send you a
prisoner to my country, here is my address — what is mine is yours,
and so you shall find,"

The man who had mutinied in the boat, and afterwards
entered on board the privateer, who was sent home with me to
take his trial, held out his hand to Captain Green as he passed
him, to wish him good-bye, but he turned away, saying, "A
traitor to his country is a traitor to his God. I forgive you for the
injury you intended to do me, and the more so as I feel I brought
it on myself; but I cannot degrade myself by offering you the
hand of friendship.**

So saying, he followed Captain Peters into the boat. I
accompanied them to the cartel, where, having satisfied myself
that they had every comfort, 1 left them. Green was so over-
come that he could not speak, and poor Mungo could only
say, "Good-bye, massa leptenant — me tinkee you berry good

man."

I returned to my own vessel, and made sail for England : once
more we greeted the white cliffs of Albion, so dear to every true
English bosom. No one but he who has been an exile from its be-
loved shores can appreciate the thrill of joy on such an occasion.
We ran through the Needles, and I anchored at Spithead, after
an absence of fourteen months. I waited on the admiral, showed
him my orders, and reported the prisoners, whom he desired me
to discharge into the fiag-ship. "And now," said he, "after
your extraordinary escape, I will give you leave to run up to town
and see your family, to whom you are no doubt an object of great
interest."

Here a short digression is necessary.

FRANK MILDMAY. 2y^

CHAPTER XXII.

Such was mv brother too,
So went he suited to his watery tomb :
If spirits can assume both form and suit,

You come to fright us. "Twelfth Night."

Soon after the frigate which had taken me off from New
Providence had parted company with the American prize that I
was sent on board of, the crew of the former, it appeared had been
boasting- among the American prisoners of the prize-money they
should receive.

'* Not you/* said the Yankees ; " you will never see your prize
any more, nor any one that went in her."

These words were repeated to the captain of the frigate, when
he questioned the mate and the crew, and the wliole nefarious
transaction came out. They said tlie ship was sinking when tliey
left her, and that was the reason they had hurried into the boat.
The mate said it was impossible to get at the leaks, which were
in the fore peak, and under the cabin deck in the run ; tiiat he
wondered Captain Green had not made it known, but he supposed
he must have been drunk: "The ship," continued the mate,
" must have gone down in twelve hours after we left her."

This was reported to the Admiralty by my captain, and my poor
father was formally acquainted with the fatal story. Five months
had elapsed since 1 was last heard of, and all hopes of my safety
had vanished : this was the reason that when I knocked at the
door, I found the servant in mourning : he was one who had been
hired since my departure, and did not know me. Of course he ex-
pressed no surprise at seeing me.

" Good heavens ! " said I, '' who is dead ? "

"My master's only son, sir," said the man, '*Mr. Frank — \ —
drowned at sea."

" Oh ! is that all ? " said I, " I am glad it's no worse,"

The man concluded that I was an unfeeling brute, and stared
stupidly at me as I brushed by him and ran upstairs to the
drawing-room. I ought to have been more guarded; but, as
usual, I followed the impulse of my feelings. 1 opened the door,
when I saw my sister sitting at a table in deep mourning, with
another young lady whose back was turned towards me. My
sister screamed as soon as she saw me. The other lady
turned round, and I beheld my Emily, my dear, dear Emily:
she too was in deep mourning. My sister, after screaming, fell
on the floor in a swoon. Emily instantly followed her example,
and there they both lay, like two petrified queens in West-

238 FRANK MILDMAy.

minster Abbey. It was a beautiful sight, ** pretty, though a
plague."

I was confoundedly frightened myself, and thought I had done
a very foolish thing ; but as I had no time to lose, I rang the bell
furiously, and seeing some jars with frcs|i flowers in them, I caLi.i!;ht;
them up and poured plentiful libations over the faces and necks of
the young ladies ; but Emily came in for much the largest share,
which proves that I had neither lost my presence of mind nor my
love for her.

My sister's maid, Higgins, was the first to answer the drawing-
room bell, which, from its violent ringing, announced some serious
event. She came bouncing into the room like a ricochet shot.
She was an old acquaintance of mine ; I had often kissed her
when a boy, and she had just as often boxed my ears. I used to
give her a ribbon to tie up her jaw with, telling her at the same
time that she had too much of it. This Abigail, like a true lady's
maid, seeing me, whom slie thought a ghost, standing bolt
upright, and the two ladies stretched out, as she supposed,
dead, gave a loud and most interesting scream, ran out of the
room for her life, nearly knocking down the footman, whom she
met coming in.

This fellow, who was a country lout, the son of one of my
father's tenants, only popped his head into the door, and saw
the ladies lying on the carpet ; he had probably formed no very
good'opinion of me from the manner in which I had received
the news of my own demise, and seemed very much inclined
to act the part of a mandarin, that is, nod his head, and stand
still.

'* Desire some of the women to come here immediately," said
I ; " some one that can be of use ; tell them to bring salts, eau
de cologne — anything. Fly, blockhead ! goose ! what do you
stand staring at ? "

The fellow looked at me, and then at the supposed corpses,
which he must have thought I had murdered ; and, either
thunderstruck, or doubting whether he had any right to obey
me, kept his head inside the door and his body outside, as \i
he had been in the pillory. I saw that he required some ex-
planation, and cried out, "I am Mr. Frank; will you obey me,
or shall I throw this jar at your head ? " brandishing one of the
china vases.

Had I*"been inclined to have thrown it I should have missed
him, for the fellow was off like a wounded porpoise. Down he
ran to my- father in the library : " Oh, sir — good news ! bad news
— good news ! "

''What news fool? " said my father, rising hastily from his

chair.

FRANK MILDMAY. 239

"Oh, sir, I don't know sir; but I believe, sir, Mr. Frank is
alive again, and both the ladies /s dci^id."

My poor father, whose health and constitution had not re-
covered the shock of my supposed death, trembling-ly leaned
over his table, on which he rested his two hands, and desired
the man to repeat what he had said- This the fellow did, half
crying, and my father, easily comprehending the state of things,
came upstairs.^ J w^ould have flown into his arms, but mine were
occupied in supporting my sweet Emily, while my poor sister lay
senseless on the other side of me ; for Clara's lover was not at
hand, and she still lay in abeyance.

By this time " the hands were turned up," everybody was on
the alert, and every living creature in the house, not excepting
the dog, had assembled in the drawing-room. The maids that
had known me cried and sobbed most piteously, and the new
comer kept them company from sympathy. The coachman,
and footman, and groom, all blubbered and stared ; and one
brought water, and one a basin, and the looby of a footman
sonu'thing else, which I must not name ; but in his hurry he
had snatched uj) the first utensil that he thought might be of
use ; 1 aj)provcd of his zeal, but nodded to him to retiro.
Unluckily for him, the housemaid perceived the mistake which
his absence of thought had led him into; and, snatching the
mysterious vessel with her left hand, she hid it under her apron,
while wath her right hand, she gave the poor fellow such a slap on
the cheek as to bring to my mind the tail of the whale de-
scending on the boat at Bermuda. ** You great fool ! " said she,
** nobody wants that."

** There is matrimony in that slap!" said I ; and the event
proved I was right — they were asked in church the Sunday
following.

The industrious application of salts, cold water, and burnt
rags, together with chafing of temples, opening of collars, and
loosening the stay-laces of the young ladies, produced the
happiest effects. Every hand, and every tongue, was in
motion ; and with all these remedies the eyes of the enchant-
ing Emily opened, and beamed upon me, spreading joy and
gladness over the face of creation, like the sun rising out of
the bosom of the Atlantic, to cheer the inhabitants of the
Antilles after a frightful hurricane. In half an hour, all
was right; "the guns were secured — we beat the retreat;"
the servants retired. I became tiie centre of the picture.
Emily held my right, my father my left; dear Clara hung
round my neck. Questions were put and answered as fast as
sobs and tears would permit of their being heard. The

2^0 FRANIt MILDMAY.

interlude was filled up with the sweetest kisses from the
rosiest of lips ; and T was in this half hour rewarded for all I had
suffered since I had sailed from England in that diabolical brig
for Barbadoes.

It was, I own, exceedingly wrong to have taken the house,
as it were, by storm, when I knew they were in mourning for
me ; but I forgot that other people did not require the same
stimulus as myself. I begged pardon ; was kissed again and
again, and forgiven. Oh, it was worth while to offend to be
forgiven by such lips, and eyes, and dimples. But I am afraid
this thought is borrowed from some prose or poetry; if so, the
reader must forgive me, and so must the author, who may
have it again now I have done with it, for I shall never use it
any more.

%ly narrative was given with as much modesty and brevity
as time and circumstances would admit. The coachman was des-
patched on one of the best carriage-horses express to Mr. Somer-
ville, and the mail-coach was loaded with letters to all the friends
and connexions of the family.

This ended, each retired to dross for dinner. What a change
had one hour wrought in this house of mourning, now suddenly
turned into a house of joy! Alas, how often is the picture re-
versed in human life ! The ladies soon reappeared in spotless
white, emblems of their pure minds. My father had put oft his
sables, and the servants came in their usual liveries, which were
very splendid.

Dinner being announced, my father handed off Emily; I
followed with my sister. Emily, looking over her shoulder, said,
" Don't be jealous, Frank."

My father laughed, and I vowed revenge for this little satiri-
cal hit.

"You know the forfeit," said I, " and you shall pay it."

** I am happy to say that I am both able and willing," said
she, and we sat down to dinner, but not before my father had
given thanks in a manner more, than usually solemn and em-
phatic. This essential act of devotion, so often neglected,
brought tears into the eyes of all. Emily sank into her chair,
covered her face with her pocket handkerchief, and relieved
herself with tears. Clara did the same. My father shook me
by the hand, and said, " Frank, this is a very different kind of
repast to what we had yesterday. How little did we know of
the happiness that was in store for us ! "

The young ladies dried their eyes, but had lost their appe-
tites : in vain did Emily endeavour to manage the tail of a
small smelt. I filled a glass of wine to each. *' Come," said

FRANK MTLDMAY. 241

I, "in sea phrase, spirits are always more easily stowed away
than dry provisions ; let us drink each other's health, and then
we shall get on better."

They took my advice, and it answered the purpose. Our repast
was cheerful, but tempered and corrected by a feeling of past
sorrow, and a deep sense of great mercies from Heaven.

" If Heaven were every day like this,
Then 'twere indeed a Heaven of bliss."

Reader, I know you have long thought me a vain man-
profligate, unprincipled Don Juan, ready to pray when in
danger, and to sin when out of it ; but as I have always told
you the truth, even when my honour and character were at
stake, I expect you will believe me now, when I say a word in
my own favour. That I felt gratitude to God for my deliver-
ance and safe return, I do most solemnly aver ; my heart was
ready to burst with the escape of this feeling, which I sup-
pressed from a false sense of shame, though I never was given
much to the melting mood ; moreover, I was too proud to show
what I thought a weakness, before the great he-fellows of foot-
men. Had we been in private, I could have fallen down on my
knees before that God whom I had so often offended ; who had
rescued me twice from the jaws of the shark; who had lifted
me from the depth of the sea when darkness covered me ;
who had saved me from the poison and the wreck, and guided
me clear of the rock at Trinidad ; and who had sent the dog to
save me from a horrible death.

These were only a small part of the mercies I had received;
but they were the most recent, and consequently had left the
deepest impression on my memory. I would have given one
of Emily's approving smiles, much as I valued them, to have
been relieved from my oppressed feelings by a hearty flood of
tears, and by a solemn act of devotion and thanksgiving ; but
I felt all this, and that feeling, I hope, was accounted to me for
righteousness. For the first time in my life, the love of God was
mixed up with a pure and earthly love for Emily, and affection for

my faniilv.

The ladies sat with us some time after the cloth was removed,
unable lo drag themselves away while I related my '* hair-breadth
escapes." When I spoke of the incident of trying to save the
poor man who fell overboard from the brig — of my holding him
by the collar, and being dragged down with him until the sea
became dark over my head, Emily could bear it no longer; she
jumped up, and falling on her knees, hid her lovely face in my
sister's lap, passionately exclaiming, "Oh, do not, do notj my

242 FRANK MILDMAY.

dear Frank, tell me any more — T cannot bear it-^indeed, I can-
not bear it."

We all gathered round her, and supported her to the drawing-
room, where we diverted ourselves with lighter and gayer anec-
dotes. Emily tried a tune on the pianoforte, and attempted a
song; but it would not do: she could not sing a gay one, and a
melancholy one overpowered her. At twelve o'clock we all retired
to our apartments, and before I slept I spent some minutes in
devotion, with vows of amendment which I fully intended to
keep.

The next morning Mr. Somerville joined us at breakfast. This
was another trial of feeling for poor Emily, who threw herself
into her father's arms, and sobbed aloud. Mr. Somerville shook
me most cordially by the hand with both of his, and eagerly de-
manded the history of my extraordinary adventures, of which I
gave him a small abridgment. I had taken the opportunity of
an hour's tete-d-tite with Emily, which Clara had considerately
given us before breakfast, to speak of our anticipated union ;
and finding there were no other obstacles than those which are
usually raised by "maiden pride and bashful coyness," so
natural, so becoming, and so lovely in the sex, I determined to
speak to the greybeards on the subject.

To this Emily at last consented, on my reminding her of my
late narrow escapes. As soon, therefore, as the ladies had
retired from the dinner-table, I asked my father to fill a bumper
to their health ; and, having swallowed mine in all the fervency
of the most unbounded love, I popped the question to them both.
Mr. Somerville and my father looked at each other, when the
former said, — ■

"You seem to be in a great hurry, Frank."

"Not greater, sir," said I, "than the object deserves." He
bowed and my father began —

"I cannot say," observed the good old gentleman, "that I
much approve of matrimony before you are a commander.
At least, till then, you are not your own master."

" Oh, if I am to wait for that, sir," said I, " I may wait long
enough ; no man is ever his own master in our service, or in
England. The captain is commanded by the admiral, the
admiral by the Admiralty, the Admiralty by the Privy Council,
the Privy Council by the Parliament, the Parliament by the
people, and the people by printers and their devils."

" I admire your logical chain of causes and effects," said my
father; " but we must, after all, go to the lace nia}iufacfory at
Charing-cross, to see if we cannot have your shoulders fitted with
a pair of epaulettes. When we can see you command your own
ploop of war, I shall be most happy, as I am sure my good friend

FRANK MILDMAY. 243

Somerville will be also, to see you command his daughter, the
finest and the best girl in the county of ." ^■■

No arguments could induce the two old gentlemen to o^te one
inch from this si7ie qua 7ion. It was agreed that application
should be made to the Admiralty forthwith for my promotion ;
and when that desirable step was obtained, that then Emily
should have the disposal of me for the honeymoon.

All this w^ a very pretty story for them on the score of
prudence, but it did not suit the views of an ardent lover of
one-and-twenty ; for though I knew my father's influence was
very great at the Admiralty, I also knew that an excellent
regulation had recently been promulgated, which prevented any
lieutenant being promoted to the rank of commander, until he
had served two years at sea from the date of his first commission;
nor could any commander, in hke manner, be promoted before he
had served one year in that capacity. All this was no doubt very
good for the service, but I had not yet attained sufficient amor
fatri(B to prefer the public to myself : and I fairly wished the
regulation and the makers of it in the cavern at New Providence
just about the time of high water.

I put it to the ladies whether this was not a case of real
distress, after all my hardships and my constancy, to be put
off with such an excuse ? The answer from the Admiralty was
so far favourable, that I was assured I should be promoted as
soon as my time was served, of which I then wanted two months.
I was appointed to a ship fitting at Woolwich, and before she
could be ready for sea my time would be completed, and I was to
have my commission as a commander. This was not the way
to ensure her speedy equipment, as far as I was concerned; but
there was no help for it ; and as the ship was at Woolwich,
and the residence of my fair one at no great distance, I
endeavoured to pass my time, during the interval, between the
duties of love and war ; between obedience to my captain,
and obedience to my mistress ; and by great good fortune I
contrived to please both, for my captain gave himself no trouble
about the ship or her equipment.

Before I proceeded to join, I made one more effort to break
through the inflexibility of my father. I said I had undergone
the labours of Hercules ; and that if I went again on foreign
service, I might meet with some young lady who would send
me out of the world with a cup of poison, or by some fatal
spell break the magical chain which now bound me to Emily
This poetical imagery had no more effect on him than m)
prose composition. 1 then appealed to Emily herself, " Surely,'
said I, "your heart is not as hard as those of our inflexible
parents : surely you will be \ny advocate on this occasion

244 FRANK MILDMAY.

Bend but one look of disapprobation on my father with those
heavenly blue eyes of yours, and, on my life, he will strike
his flag."

But the gipsy replied, with a smile (instigated, no doubt, from
head-quarters), that she did not like the idea of her name
appearing in the Morning Post as the bride of a lieutenant.
" What's a lieutenant nowadays ? " said she — '' nobody. I
remember when I was on a visit at Fareham, I used to go to
Portsmouth to see the dockyard and the ships, and there was
your great friend the tall admiral. Sir Hurricane Humbug, I
think you call him, driving the poor lieutenants about like so
many sheep before a dog; there was always one at his heels,
like a running footman ; and there was another that appeared
to me to be chained, like a mastiff, to the door of the admiral's
office, except when the admiral and family walked out, and then
he brought up the rear with the governess. No, Frank, I shall not
surrender at discretion, with all my charms, to anything less than
a captain, with a pair of gold epaulettes."

** Very well," replied I, looking into the pier-glass, with
tolerable self-complacency; *' if you choose to pin your happiness
on the promises of a first lord of the Admiralty and a pair of
epaulettes, I can say no more. There is no accounting for
female taste ; some ladies prefer gold lace and wrinkles, to youth
and beauty — ■! am sorry for them all, that's all."

"Frank," said Emily, "you must acknowledge that you are
vain enough to be an admiral at least."

" The admirals are much obliged to you for the compliment,"
said I. "I trust I should not disgrace the Hag, come when
it will ; but to tell you the truth, my dear Emily, I cannot
say I look forward to that elevation with any degree of satisfac-
tion. Three stars on each shoulder, and three rows of gold
lace round the cuff, are no compensation, in my eyes, for grey
hairs, thin legs, a broken back, a church-yard cough, and to be
laughed at or pitied by all the pretty girls in the country into the

bargain."

"I am sorry for you, my hero," said the young lady: "but
you must submit."

"Well, then, if I must, I must," said I ; " but give me a kiss
in the meantime."

I asked for one, and took a hundred, and should have taken a
hundred more, but the confounded butler came in, and brought
me a letter on service, which was neither more nor less than an
order to join my ship forthwith : sic transit^ &c.

Pocketing my disappointment with as much sang jroid as
I could muster, I continued to beguile the time and to solace
myself for my past sufferings, by as much enjoyment as could

FRANK MILDMAY. 245

be compressed into the small space of leisure time allotted to
me. Fortunately, the first lieutenant of the frigate was what
we used to call a "hard officer:" he never went on shore,
because he had few friends and less money. He drew for
his pay on the day it became due, and it lasted till the next
day of payment; and as I found he doated on a Spanish cigar,
and a correct glass of co^n3.c grog — for he never drank to
excess — I presented him with a box of the former, and a dozen
of the latter, to enable him to bear my nightly absence with
Christian composure.

As soon as the day's work was ended, the good-natured
lieutenant used to say, "Come, Mr. Mildmay, I know what it is
to be in love ; I was once in love myself, though it is a good
many years ago, and I am sure I shall get into the good graces
of your Polly (for so he called Emily), if I send you to her arms.
There is the jolly for you : send the boat off as soon as you have
landed, and be with us at nine to-morrow morning, to meet the
midshipman and the working party in the dockyard."

All this was perfectly agreeable to me. I generally got to
Mr, Somerville's temporary residence on Biackheath \iy the
time the dressing-bell rang, and never failed to meet a pleasant
party at dinner. My father and dear Clara were guests in the
house as well as myself. By Mr. Somerville's kind permission,
I introduced Talbot, who, being a perfect gentleman in his
manners, a man of sound sense, good education, and high
aristocratic connections, I was proud to call my friend. I pre-
sented him particularly to my sister, and took an opportunity
of whispering in Emily's ear, where 1 knew it would not long
remain, that he possessed the indispensable qualification of two
epaulettes. "Therefore," said I, "pray do not trust yourself
too near him, for fear you should be taken by surprise, like the
Trtie-hloodcd Yajikcey

Talbot, knowing that Emily was bespoken, paid her no more
than the common attentions which courtesy demands ; but to
Clara his demeanour was very different : and her natural
attractions were much enhanced in his eyes by the friendship
which we had entertained for each other ever since the memorable
affair of swimming away from the ship at Spithead ; from that
time he used jocularly to call me " Leander."

But before I proceed any further with this part of my history, I
must beg leave to detain the reader one minute only, while I
attempt Xo make a sketch of my dear little s\stQ.x Clara. She was
rather fair, with a fine, small, oval, well-proportioned face,
sparkling black and speaking eyes, good teeth, pretty red lips,
very dark hair, and plenty of it, hanging over her face and neck

246 FRANK MILDMAY.

in curls of every size ; her arms and bust were such as Phidias
and Praxiteles might have copied ; her waist was slender ; her
hands and feet small and beautiful. I used often to think it was
a great pity that such a love as she was should not be matched
with some equally good specimen of our sex ; and I had long
fixed on my friend Talbot as the person best adapted to command
this pretty little tight fast-sailing well-rigged smack.

Unluckily Clara, with all her charms, had one fault, and that
in my eyes was a very serious one. Clara did not love a sailor.
The soldiers she doated on. But Clara's predilections were not
easily overcome, and that which had once taken root grew up
and flourished. She fancied sailors were not well-bred; that
they thought too much of themselves or their ships ; and, in
short, that they were as rough and unpolished as they were
conceited.

With such obstinate and long-rooted prejudices against all of
our profession it proved no small share of merit in Talbot to
overcome them. But as Clara's love for the army was more
.Sfeneral than particular, Talbot had a vacant theatre to fight in.
He began by handing her to dinner, and with modest assurance
seated himself by her side. Bat so well was he aware of her
failing, that he never once alluded to our unfortunate element ;
on the contrary, he led her away with every variety of topic
which he found best suited to her taste : so that she was at last
compelled to acknowledge that he might be one exception to
her rule, and I took the liberty of hoping that I might be
another.

One day at dinner Talbot called me **Leander," which
instantly attracted the notice of the ladies, and an explanation
was demandeid ; but for a time it was evaded, and the subject
changed. Kmily, however, joining together certain imperfect
reports which had reached her ears, through the kindness of
" some friends of the family," began to suspect a rival, and the
next morning examined me so closely on the subject that, fearing
a disclosure from other quarters, I was compelled to make a
confession.

I told her the whole history of my acquaintance with Eugenia,
of my last interview, and of her mysterious departure. I did not
even omit the circumstance of her offering me money ; but I con-
cealed the probability of her being a mother. I assured her that
it was full fouryear.s and a half since we had met ; and that, as she
knew of my engagement, it was unlikely we should ever meet
again. " At any rate," I said, " I shall never seek her; and if
accident should throw me in her way, I trust I shall behave like a
man of honour "

FRANK MILDMAY. 247

I did not think it necessary to inform her of the musket-shots
fired at me by order of Talbot, as that might have injured him in
the estimation of both Emily and Clara. When I had concluded
my narrative, Emily sighed and looked very grave. I asked her
if she had forgiven me.

"Conditionally," said she, *'^s you said to the mutineers."

CHAPTER XXIII.

In all states of Europe, there are a set of men who assume frpm
their infancy a pre-eminence independent of their moral character. The
attention paid to them from the moment of their birth, gives them the
idea tliat they are formed for command, and they soon learn to consider
themselves a distinct species : and, being secure of a certain rank and
station, take no pains to make themselves worthy of it. Raynal.

It is now time to make my reader acquainted witit my new ship
and new captain. The first was a frigate of the largest class,
built on purpose to cope with the large double-banked frigates of
the Yankees. She carried thirty long twenty-four pounders on her
main deck, and the same number of forty-two pound carronades
on her quarter-gangways and forecastle.

I had been a week on board, doing duty during the day, and
flirting on shore, at Mr. Somerville's at Blackheath, during the
evening. I had seen no captain yet, and the first lieutenant had
gone on shore one morning to stretch his legs. I was commanding
ofllicer ; the people were all at their dinner ; it was a drizzling soft
rain, and I was walking the quarter-deck by myself, when a shore-
boat came alongside with a person in plain-clothes. I paid him
no attention, supposing him to be a wine-merchant or a slop-seller
come to ask permission to serve the ship. The stranger looked at
the dirty man-ropes which the side-boy held off to him, and in-
quired if there was not a clean pair ? The lad replied in the
negative ; and the stranger, perceiving there was no remedy, took
hold of the dirty ropes and ascended the side.

Reaching the quarter-deck, he came up to me, and showing a
pair of sulphur-coloured gloves bedaubed with tar and dirt,
angrily ob^^erved, "By G — , sir, I have spoiled a new pair of

gloves."

" I always take my gloves off when I come up the side,"

said I.

"But 1 choose to keep piinc on," said the stranger. "And
why could not I have had a pair of clean ropes ? ' '

248 FRANK MILDMAY.

" Because," said I, ** my orders are only to give them when the
side is piped."

*'And why was not the side piped for me, sir?"

*' Because, sir, we never pipe the side until we know who it is
for,"

" As sure as I shall sit in th# House of Peers, I will report you
to your captain for this," said he.

*' We only pipe the side for officers in uniform," said I ; ** and
I am yet to learn by what right you demand that honour."

'* I am, sir," said he, (showing his card), " , &c. Do you

know me now ? "

** Yes, sir," said I, " as a gentleman ; but until I see you in a
captain's uniform I cannot give you the honours you demand."
As I said this, I touched my hat respectfully.

" Tlien, sir," said he, " as sure as I shall sit in the House of
Peers, 1 shall let you know more of this; " and having asked
whether the captain was on board, and received an answer in the
negative, he turned round, and went down the side into his boat,
without giving me an opportunity of supplying him with a pair of
clean ropes. He pulled away for the shore, and I never heard
anything more of the dirty ropes and soiled ,gloves.

This ofBcer, I afterwards learned, was in the habit of interlard-
ing his discourse with this darling object of his ambition ; but as
he is now a member of the Upper House, it is to be supposed he
has exchanged the affidavit for some other. While he commanded
a ship he used to say, "As sure as I shall sit in the House of
Peers, I will flog you, my man ; " and when this denunciation had
passed his lips the punishment was never remitted. With us, the
reverse of this became our by-word ; lieutenants, midshipmen,
sailors, and marines asserted their claim to veracity by saying,
" As sure as I shall -not sit in the House of Peers,"

This was the noble lord who, when in command of one of
His Alajesty's ships in China, employed a native of that country
to take his portrait. Vhe resemblance not having been flatter-
ing, the artist was sharply rebuked by his patron. The poor
man replied, " Ai awe, master, how can handsome face make if
handsome face no have got ? " This story has, like many other
good stories, been pirated, and applied to other cases ; but I
claim it as the legitimate property of the navy, and can vouch for
its origin as I have related.

My messmates dropped in one after another until our number
was completed ; and at length a note, in an envelope addressed
to the hrst lieutenant "on service," and marked on the lower
left-hand corner with the name of the noble writer, announced
that our captain would make his appearance on the following

day. We were of course prepared to receive him in our full

FRANK MILDMAY. 249

uniforms, with our cocked hats and swords, with the marine
guard under arms. He came alongside at half-past twelve
o'clock, when the men were at dinner, an unusual hour to select,
as it is not the custom ever to disturb them at their meals if it can
be avoided He appeared in a sort of undress frock-coat, fali-
down-collai, anchor buttons, no epaulettes, and a lancer's cap,
with a broad gold band.

This was not correct, but as he was a lord he claimed privi-
lege ; and on this rock of privilege we found afterwards that he
always perched himself on every occasion. We were all pre-
sented to him, and to each he condescended to give a nod.
His questions were all confined to the first lieutenant, and all
related to his own comforts. " Where is my steward to He — where
is my valet to sleep— where is my cow-pen — and where are my
sheep to be ? " We discovered, when he had been one hour in
our company, that his noble self was the god of his idolatry. As
for the details of the ship and her crew, masts, rigging, stowage^
provisions, the water she would carry, and how much sne drew,
they were subjects on which he never fatigued his mind.

One hour having expired since he had come on board, he
ordered his boat and returned to the shore, and we saw no more
of him, until we arrived at Spithead, when his lordship came on
board, accompanied by a person whom we soon discovered was a
half-pay purser in the navy^a man who by dint of the grossest
flattery and numerous little attentions had so completely ingrati-
ated himself with his patron that he had become as necessary an
appendage to the travelling equipage as the portmanteau or the
valet-de-chambre. This despicable toady was his lordship's
double; he was the living type of Gnatho of Terence; and I
never saw him without remembering the passage that ends " s^'
negate id quoque nego." Black was white, and white was black
with toady, if his lordship pleased ; he messed in the cabin, did
much mischief in the ship, and only escaped kicking because he
was too contemptible to be kicked.

My fair readers are no doubt anxious to know how I parted
with Emily, and truly I am not unwilling to oblige them, though
it is, indeed, a tender subject. As soon as we received our orders
to proceed to Spithead, Mr. Somerville, who had kept his house
at Blackheath while the ship was fitting, in hopes that my pro-
motion might have taken place before she was ready, now pre-
pared to quit the place To the renewed application of my
father, the answer was that I must go abroad for my promotion.
This at once decided him to break up his summer quarters,
very wisely foreseeing that unless he did so my services would
be lost to my ship ; and if he and Emily did not leave me behind
at Woolwich I should probably be left behind by my captain : he

250 FRANK MILDMAY.

therefore announced his intended departure within twenty-four
hours.

Emily was very sorry, and so was I. I kindly reproached
her with her cruelty ; but she repHed with a degree of firmness
and good sense, which I could not but admire, that she had but
one counsellor and that was her father, and that until she was
married she never intended to have any other; that by his advice
she had delayed the union : and as we were neither of us very
old people, " I trust in God," said she, "we may meet again.'*
I admired her heroism, gave her one kiss, handed her into her
carriage, and we shook hands, I need not say I saw a tear or
two in her eyes. Mr. Somerville saw the shower coming on,
pulled up the glass, gave me a friendly nod, and the carriage
drove off. The last I saw of Emily, at that time, was her right
hand, which carried her handkerchief to her eyes.

After the dear inmates were gone, I turned from the door of
the house in disgust, and ran direct to my boat, like a dog with
a tin-kettle. When I got on board I hated the sight of every-
body and the smell of everything ; pitch, paint, bilge-water, tar,
and rum, entering into horrible combination, had conspired
against me, and I was as sick and as miserable as the most love-
sick seaman can conceive. I have before observed that we had
arrived at Spithead, and as I have nothing new to say of that
place, I shall proceed to sea. ■

We sailed for the North American station, the pleasantest
I could go to when away from Emily. Our passage was tedious,
and we were put on short allowance of water. Those only who
have known it will understand it. All felt it but the captain,
who, claiming privilege, took a dozen gallons everyday to bathe
his feet in, and that water when done with was greedily sought
for by the men. There was some murmuring about it which came
to the captain's ears, who only observed with an apathy peculiar
to Almack's — ■

" Well, you know, if a man has no privilege, what's the use
of being a captain ? "

" Very true, my lord," said the toad-eater, with a low bow.

I will now give a short description of his lordship. He was
a smart, dapper, well made man, with a handsome, but not an
intellectual countenance ; cleanly and particular in his person ;
and, assisted by the puffs of toady, had a very good opinion of
himself; proud of his aristocratic birth, and still more vain of
his personal appearance. His knowledge on most points was
superficial— high life, and anecdotes connected with it, were the
usual topics of his discourse ; at his own table he generally en-
grossed all the conversation ; and while his guests drank his
wine, ''they laughed with counterfeited glee," &c. His read-

FRANK MILDMAY. 251

ing was comprised in two volumes octavo, being the Memoirs
of the Count de Grammont, which amusing and aristocratical
work was never out of his hand. He had been many years at
sea, but, strange to say, knew nothing, literally nothing, of his
profession. Seamansliip, navi.gation, and everything connected
with the service, he was perfectly ignorant of. I had heard him
spoken of as a good ofhcer before lie joined us; and I must in
justice to him say that he was naturally good-temper(jd, and I
believe as brave a man as ever drew a sword.

He seldom made any professional remark, being aware of his
dehciency, and never ventured beyond his depth intentionally.
Wlien he came on the quarter-deck, lie usually Iciokod to the
weather mainbrace, and if it was not as taut as a bar would order
it to be made so. Here he cuuld not easily commit himself; but
it became a by-word with us when we laughed at him below. He
had a curious way of forgetting, or pretending to forget, the
names of men and things — 1 presume because they were so
much beneath him : and in their stead substituted the elegant
phrases of " what's-his-name," and " what-do-ye-call-'em," and
" thingumbob."

One da.y he went on deck, and actually gave me the following
very intt'lligiijle order : "Mr. V\"hat's-his-name, have the good-
ness to— what-do-ye*call-'em -"the — the thingumbob."

'^Ay, ay, my lord!" said I. ** Afterguard, haul taut the
weather mainbrace ! " This was exactly what he meant.

He v,'as very particular and captious when not properly ad-
dressed. When an order is given by a commanding officer, it is
not unusual to say, "Very good, sir; " implying that you per-
fectly understand, and are going cheerfully to obey it. I had
adopted this answer, and gave it to his lordship when I received
an order from him, saying, *' Very good, my lord."

" Mr. Mildmay," said his lordship, " I don't suppose you mean
anything like disrespect, but I will thank you not to make that
answer again : it is for me to say * very good,' and not you. You
seem to approve of my order, ?nd I don't like it ; I beg you will
not do it again, you know."

" Very good, my lord," said I, so inveterate is habit. " I beg
your lordship's pardon, I mean 'very well.' "

" I don't much like that young man," said his lordship to his
toady, who followed him up and down the quarter-deck like
** the bobtail cur," looking his master in the face. I did not hear
the answer, but of course it was an echo.

The first time we reefed topsails at sea, the captain was on
deck: he said nothing, but merely looked on. The second
time, we found he had caught all the words of the first lieu-
tenant, and repeated them in a loud and pompous voice, with-

( t "^

t <

252 FRANK MILDMAY.

out knowing whether they were applicable to the case or not.
The third time he fancied he was able to go alone, and down
he fell — he made a sad mistake indeed. ** Hoist away the fore-
topsail/* said the first lieutenant. " Hoist away the fore-topsail/'
said the captain. The men were stamping aft, and the topsail
yards travelling up to the mast-head very fast, when they were
stopped by a sudden check with the fore-topsail haulyards.

" What's the matter ? " said the first lieutenant, calling to me,
who was at my station on the forecastle.

"Something foul of the topsail-tie," I replied.

" What's the matter forward?" said the captain.
Xopsail-tie is foul, my lord," answered the first lieutenant.
D—n the topsail-tie ! — cut it away. Out knife there, aloft!
1 zvi'/l have the topsai4 hoisted ; cut away the topsail-tie ! "

For the information of my land readers, 1 should observe
that the topsail-tie was the very rope w-hich was at that moment
suspending the yard aloft. 'J'he cutting it would have disabled
the ship until it could have been repaired ; and had the order been
obeyed, the topsail-yard itself would, in all probability, have been
sprung, or broken in two on the cap.

We arrived at Halifax without falling in with an enemy ; and
as soon as the ship was secured, I went on shore to visit all my
dear Dulcineas, every one of whom I persuaded that on her
account alone I had used my utmost interest to be sent out on
the station. Fortunately for them and for me, I was not long
permitted to trifle away my time. We were ordered to cruise on
the coast of North America. It Was winter and very cold ; we
encountered many severe gales of wind, during which we suffered
much from the frequent and sudden srow-storms, north-east
gales, and sharp frosts, which rendered our running-rigging
almost unmanageable, and obliged us to pour boiling water into
the sheaves of the blocks to thaw them, and allow the ropes to
traverse ; nor did the cold permit the captain to honour us
with his presence on deck more than once in the twenty- four
hours.

We anchored off a part of the coast which was not in a state
of defence, and the people, being unprotected by their own
government, considered themselves as neutrals, and supplied
us with as much fish, poultry, and vegetables as we required.
While we lay here, the captain and officers frequently went on
shore for a short time without molestation. One night, after
the captain had returned, a snow-storm and a gale of wind
came on. The captain's gig, which ought to have been hoisted
up, was not ; she broke her painter and went adrift, and had
been gone some time before she was missed. The next morning,
on making inquiry, it was found that the boat had drifted oq

FRANK MILDMAY. 353

shore a few miles from where we lay ; and that having been
taken possession of by the Americans, they had removed her to
a hostile part of the coast, twenty-two miles off. The captain
was very much annoyed at the loss of his boat, which he con-
sidered as his own private property, although built on board by
the king's men, and with the king's plank and nails,

''As my private property," said his lordship, "it ought to be
given up, you know.*'

I did not tell him that 1 had seen the sawyers cutting an
anchor-stock into the plank of which it was built, and that the
said plank had been put down to other services in the expense-
book. This, however, was no business of mine ; nor had 1 any
idea that the loss of this little boat would so nearly produce my
final catastrophe ; so it was, however, and very serious results
took place in consequence of this accident.

"They mus i^ resipect private property, you know,'* said the
captain to the first lieutenant.

" Yes," answered the lieutenant; " but they do not know that
it is private property."

" Very true : then I will send and tell them so ; " and down he
went to his dinner.

The yawl was ordered to be got ready, and hoisted out at day-
light, and I had notice given me that I was to go away in her.
About nine o'clock the next morning, I was sent for into the cabin ;
his lordship was still in bed, and the green silk curtains were
drawn close round his cot.

'* Mr. Thingamy," said his lordship, ''you will take the what' s-
his-name, you know."

"Yes, my lord," said I.

"And you will go to that town, and ask for my thingumbob."

" For your gig, my lord ? " said I.

"Yes— that's all."

" But, my lord, suppose they won't give it to me ? "

"Then take it."

" Suppose the gig is not there, my lord ; and if there, suppose
they refuse to give it up ? "

" Then take every vessel out of the harbour."

" Very well, my lord.- Am I to put the gun in the boat — or to
take muskets only ? "

"Oh, no — no arms— take a flag of truce — No, 8 (white flag)
will do."

" Suppose they will not accept the flag of truce, my
lord?"

" Oh, but they will : they always respect a flag of truce, you
know."

Q

254 FRANK MILDMAY.

"I beg your lordship's pardon, but I think a few muskets in
the boat would be of service.'*

*' No, no, no — no arms [ You will be fighting about nothing.
You have your orders, sir."

** Yes/' thinks I, " I have. If I succeed, I am a robber ; if I
fail, I am liable to be hanged on the first tree."

I left the cabin, and went to the first lieutenant. I told him
what my orders were. This officer was, as I before observed,
a man who had no friends, and was therefore entirely dependent
on the captain for his promotion, and was afraid to act contrary
to his lordship's orders, however absurd. I told him that,
whatever might be the captain's orders, I would not go without
arms.

"The orders of his lordship must be obeyed," said the lieu-
tenant.

"Why," said I, irritated at this folly, "you are as clever a
fellow as the skipper."

This he considered so great an affront, that he ran down to his
cabin, saying, "You shall hear from me again for this, sir."

I concluded that he meant to try me by a court-martial, to
which I had certainly laid myself open by this unguarded expres-
sion ; but I went on the quarter-deck, and, during his absence,
got as many muskets into the boat as I wanted, with a proper
proportion of ammunition. This was hardly completed, before
the lieutenant came up again, and put a letter into my hands ;
which was no more than the very comfortable intelligence, that,
on my return from the expedition on which I was then going,
he should expect satisfaction for the affront I had offered him.
I was glad, however, to find it was no worse. I laughed at his
threat ; and, as the very head and front of my offending was
only having compared him to the captain, he could not show any
resentment openly, for fear of displeasing his patron. In short,
to be offended at it, was to offer the greatest possible affront to
the man he looked up to for promotion, and thus destroy all his
golden prospects.

As I put this well-timed challenge into my pocket, I walked
down the side, got into my boat, and put off. It wanted but one
hour of sunset when I reached the part where this infernal gig was
supposed to be, and the sky gave strong indications of an
approaching gale. Indeed, I do not believe another captain in
the navy could have been found who, at such a season of the year,
would have risked a boat so far from the ship, on an enemy's
coast and a lee-shore, for such a worthless object.

My crew consisted of twenty men and a midshipman. When
we arrived off the mouth of the harbour, we perceived four

FRANK MILDMAY. 255

vessels lying at anchor, and pulled directly in. We had, how-
ever, no opportunity of trying our flag of truce, for as soon as we
came within range of musket-shot a volley from two hundred con-
cealed militiamen struck down four of my men. There was then
nothing left for it but to board, and bring out the vessels. Two of
them were aground, and we set them on fire, it being dead low
water (thanks to the delay in the morning) : in doing this, we had
more men wounded. I then took possession of the other two
vessels, and giving one of them in charge of the midshipman,
who was quite a lad, I desired him to weigh his anchor . I gave
him the boat with all the men except four whom I kept with me.
The poor fellow probably, lost more men, for he cut his cable, and
got out before me. I weighed my anchor, but had one of my men
killed by a musket-ball in doing it. I stood out after the midship-
man. We had gained an offing of four mites, when a violent
gale and snow-storm came on. The sails belonging to the vessel
all blew to rags immediately, being very old. I had no resource
except to anchor, which I did on a bank, in five fathom water.
The other vessel lost all her sails, and, having no anchor, as I
then conjectured and afterwards learned, drifted on shore and was
dashed to pieces, the people being either frozen to death, wounded,
or taken prisoners.

The next morning I could see the vessel lying on shore a wreck,
covered with ice. A dismal prospect to me, as at that time I knew
not what had become of the men. My own situation was even less
enviable ; the vessel was frail, and deeply laden with salt : a cargo,
which, if it by any means gets wet, is worse than water, since it
cannot be pumped out, and becomes as heavy as lead ; nothing
could, in that event, have kept the vessel afloat, and we had no
boat in case of such an accident. I had three men with me, be-
sides the dead body in the cabin, and a pantry as clear as an
empty house — not an article of any description to eat. I was four
miles from the shore in a heavy gale of wind, the pleasure of which
was enhanced by snow and the bitterest cold I ever experienced.
We proceeded to examine the vessel, and found that there was on
board a quantity of sails and canvas that did not fit, but had been
bought with an intention of making up for this vessel, and not be-
fore she wanted them ; there was also an abundance of palms,
needles, and twine : but to eat there was nothing except salt, and
to drink nothing but one cask of fresh water. We kindled a fire
in the cabin, and made ourselves as warm as we could, taking a
view on deck now and then to see if she drove or if the gale
abated She pitched heavily, taking in whole seas over the
forecastle, and the water froze on the deck. The next morning
we found we had drifted a mile nearer to the shore, and the
gale continued with unabated violence. The other vessel lay a

356 FRANK MILDMAY.

wreck, with her masts gone, and as it were in terrorem, staring
us in the face.

We felt the most pinching hunger ; we had no fuel after the
second day, except what we pulled down from the bulkiieads of
the cabin. We amused ourselves below, makings a suit of sails
for the vessel, and drinking hot water to repel the cold. But
this work could not have lasted long; the weather became more
intensely cold, and twice did we set the prize on fire in our
liberality with the stove to keep ourselves warm. The ice
formed on the surface of the water in our kettle, till it was dis-
solved by the heat from the bottom. The second night passed
like the first ; and we found, in the morning, that we had drifted
within two miles of the shore. We completed our little
sails this day, and with great difficulty contrived to bend
them.

The men were now exhausted wilii cold and hunger, and
proposed that we should cut our cable and run on shore ; but I
begged them to wait till the next morning, as these gales seldom
lasted long. This they agreed to : and we again huddled together
to keep ourselves warm, the outside man pulHng the dead man
close to him by way of a blanket. The gale this night moderated,
and towards the morning the weather was fine, although the

wind was against us, and to beat her up to the ship was impossible.
From the continued freezing of the water the bobstays and the
rigging were coated with ice five or six inches thick, and the fore-
castle was covered with two feet of clear ice, showing the ropes
coiled underneath it.

There was no more to be done : so, desiring the men to cut the
cable, I made up my mind to run the vessel on shore and give my-
self up. We hoisted the foresail, and I stood in with the intention
of surrendering myself and people at a large town which I knew
was situated about twelve miles farther on the coast. To have
given myself up at the place where the vessels had been captured
I did not think would have been prudent.

When we made sail on the third morning, we had drifted within
half a mile of the shore, and very near the place we had left.
Field-pieces had been brought down against us. They had the
range but they could not reach us. I continued to make more
sail, and to creep along shore, until I came within a few cables*
length of the pier, where men, women, and children were as-
sembled to see us land; when suddenly a snow-storm came on;
the wind shifted, and blew with such violence that 1 could neither
see the port, nor turn the vessel to windward into it ; and as I
knew I could not hold my own, and that the wind was fair for our
ship, then distant about forty miles, we agreed to up helm and
sCud for her.

FRANK MILDMAY. 257

This was well executed. About eleven at night we hailed her,
and asked for a boat. They had seen us approching, and a boat
instantly came, taking us all on board the frigate, and leaving
some fresh hands in charge of the prize.

I was mad with hunger and cold, and with difiBculty did we
get up the side, so exhausted and feeble were the whole of us.
I was ordered down into the cabin, for it was too cold for the
captain to show his face on deck. I found his lordship sitting
before a good fire, with his toes in the grate; a decanter of
Madeira stood on the table, with a wine-glass, and most fortu-
nately, though not intended for my use, a large rummer. This
I seized with one hand and the decanter with the other ; and,
filling a bumper, swallowed it in a moment, without even
drinking his lordship*s good health. He stared, and I believe
thought me mad, I certainly do own that my dress and ap-
pearance perfectly corresponded with my «:' ctions. I had not
been washed, shaved, or '* cleaned,** sinc^ ' had left the ship,
three days before. My beard was grown, ti^y cheeks hollow,
my eyes sunk, and for my stomach, I leave that to those for-
tunate Frenchmen who escaped from the Russian campaign,
who only can appreciate my sufferings. My whole haggard
frame was enveloped in a huge blue flushing coat frosted like
a plum-cake with ice and snow.

As soon as I could speak, I said, " I beg pardon, my lord, but
I have had nothing to eat or drink since I left the ship.*'

" Oh, then you are very welcome," said his lordship; '* I never
expected to see you again.'*

"Then why the devil did you send me?" thought I to
myself.

During this short dialogue, I had neither been offered a chair
or any refreshment, of which I stood so much in need ; and if I
had been able, should have been kept standing while I related
my adventures. I was about to commence, when the wine got
into my head ; and to support myself, I leaned, or rather
staggerea, on the back of a chair.

"Never mind now," said the captain, apparently moved from
his listless apathy by my situation; "go and make yourself
comfortable, and I will hear it all to-morrow.*'

This was the only kind thing he had ever done for me ; and
it came ^0 a j^rojjus that I felt grateful to him for it, thanked
him, and went below to the gun-room, where, notwithstanding
all I hiid heard and read of the dangers of repletion after long
abstine nee, I ate voraciously and drank proportionately, ever
and a'lon telling my astonished messmates, who were looking
on, what a narrow escape the dead body had of being dissected
and broiled. This, from the specimen of my performance,

258 FRANK MILDMAY.

they had no difficulty in beheving. I recommended the three
men who had been with me to the care of the surgeon ; and,
with his permission, presented each of them with a pint of
hot brandy and water well sweetened, by way of a nightcap.
Having taken these precautions, and satisfied the cravings of

nature on my own part, as well as the cravings of curiosity on
that of my messmates, I went to bed and slept soundly till the
next day at noon.

Thus ended this anomalous and fatal expedition : an ambas-
sador sent with the sacred emblem of peace, to commit an act
of hostility under its protection. To have been taken under
such circumstances, would have subjected us to be hanged like
dogs on the first tree ; to have gone unarmed would have
been an act of insanity, and I therefore took upon me to dis-
obey an unjust and absurd order. This, however, must not
be pleaded as an example to juniors, but a warning to seniors
how they give orders without duly weighing the consequences:
the safest plan is always to obey. Thus did his Majesty's service
lose eighteen fine fellows, under much se\^ere suffering, for
a boat, "the private property " of the captain, not worth twenty
pounds.

The next day, as soon as I was dressed, the first lieutenant
sent to speak to me. I then recollected the little affair of the
challenge. "A delightful after-piece," thought I, "to the
tragedy, to be shot by the first lieutenant only for calling him
as clever a fellow as the captain.'* The lieutenant, however,
had no such barbarous intentions ; he had seen and acknow-
ledged the truth of my observation, and, being a well-meaning
north-countryman, he offered me his hand, which I took with
pleasure, having had quite enough of stimulus for that time.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Bell. You have an opportunity, now, madam, to revenge yourself upon
him for affronting your squirrel.
Belin. O, the filthy, rude beast.
Aram. 'Tis a lasting quarrel. Congreve.

We sailed the next day, and, after one month more of unsuc-
cessful cruising, arrived safe at Halifax, where I was informed
that an old friend of my father's, Sir Hurricane Humbug, of
whom some mention has already been made in this work, had
just arrived. He was not in an official character, but had come
out to look after his own property. It is absolutely necessary

FRANK MILDMAY. 259

that I should here, with more than usual formality, introduce
the reader to an intimate acquaintance with the character of
Sir Hurricane.

Sir Hurricane had risen in life by his own ingenuity, and
the patronage of a rich man in the south of England : he was
of an ardent disposition, and was an admirable justice of
peace, when the argumenhmi bacultnum was required, for
which reason he had been sent to reduce two or three refractory
establishments to. order and obedience; and, by his firmness
and good humour, succeeded. His tact was a little know-
ledge of everything, not like Solomon's from the hyssop to the
cedar, but from the boiler of a potato to the boiler of a steam-
boat, and from catching a sprat to catching a whale ; he could
fatten pigs and poultry, and had a peculiar way of improving the
size, though not the breed of the latter; in short, he was "jack
of all trades and master of none."

I shall not go any farther back with his memoirs than the
day he chose to teach an old woman how to make mutton
broth. He had in the course of an honest discharge of his
duty at a certain very dirty sea-port town, incurred the dis-
pleasure of the lower orders generally; he nevertheless would
omit no opportunity of doing good, and giving advice to the
poor gratis. One day he saw a woman emptying the contents
of a boiling kettle out of her door into the street. He ap-
proached, and saw a leg of mutton at the bottom, and the
unthrifty housewife throwing away the liquor in which it had been

boiled.

** Good woman!" said the economical baronet, "do you
know what you are doing ? A handful of meat, a couple of
carrots, and a couple of turnips, cut up into [.dice and thrown
into that liquor, with a little parsley, would make excellent mutton
broth for your family."

The old woman looked up, and saw the ogre of the dock-
yard; and either by losing her presence of mind or by a most
malignant slip of the hand, she contrived to pour a part of the
boiling water into the shoes of Sir Hurricane. The baronet
jumped, roared, hopped, stamped, kicked off his shoes, and
ran home d — ning the old woman, and himself too, for having
tried to teach her how to make mutton broth. As he ran off, the
ungrateful hag screamed after him, " Sarves you right ; teach
you to mind your own business."

The next day, in his magisterial capacity, he commanded the
attendance of "the dealer in slops." "Well, madam, what
have you to say for yourself for scalding one of his Majesty's
justices of the peace ? Don^t you know that I have the power to
commit you to Maidstone gaol for the assault ? "

26o FRANK MILDMAY.

"I beg your honour's pardon humbly," said the woman; "I
did not know it was your honour, or I am sure I would't a'
done it; besides, I own to your honour I had a drop too
much,"

The g-ood-natured baronet dismissed her with a little suitable
advice, which no doubt the good woman treated as she did that
relative to the mutton broth.

My acquaintance with Sir Hurricane had commenced at Ply-
mouth, when he kicked my ship to sea in a gale of wind for fear
we should ground on our beef bones. I never forgave him for
that. My father had shown him crreat civilitv. and had intro-
duced me to him. When at Halifax, we resided in the same
house with a mutual friend who had always received me as his
own son. He had a son of my own age with whom I had long
been jon terms of warm friendship, and Ned and I confederated
against Sir Hurricane. Having paid a few visits en passant y as
I landed at the King*s Wharf, shook hands with a few pretty
girls, and received their congratulations on my safe return, I went
to the house of my friend, and, without ceremony, walked into
the drawing-room.

**Do you know, sir," said the footman, ''that Sir Hurricane
is in his room? But he is very busy," added the man, with a
smile.

** Busy or not," said I, "I am sure he will see me" — so in I

walked.

Sir Hurricane was employed on something, but I could not
distinctly make out what. He had a boot between his knees
and the calves of his legs, which he pressed together, and as he
turned his head round, I perceived that he held a knife between
his teeth.

*' Leave the door open, messmate," said he, without taking
the least notice of me. Then rising, he drew a large black
tom-cat by the tail, out of the boot, and flinging it away from
him to a great distance, which distance was rapidly increased
by the voluntary exertion of the cat, which ran away as if it
had been mad — ** There," said he, "and be d — d to you, you
have given me more trouble than a whole Kentucky farm-yard ;
but I shall not lose my sleep any more by your d — -d cater-
wauling."

All this was pronounced as if he had not seen rae — in fact, it
was a soliloquy, for the cat did not stay to hear it. ** Ah ) " said
he, holding out his hand to me, *' how do you do ? I know your
face, but d — n me if I have not forgot your name."

" My name, sir," said I, " is Mildmay."

" Ah, Mildmay, my noble, how do you do — how did you leave
your father ? J. knew him very well — used to give devilish good

FRANK MILDMAY. 261

feeds — many a plate Pve dirtied at his table — don't care how soon
I put my legs under it again ; take care, mind which way you put
your helm — you will be aboard of my chickabiddies — don't run
athwart hawse."

I found, on looking down, that I had a string round my leg»
which fastened a chicken to the table, and saw many more of
these little creatures attached to the chairs in the room ; but
for what purpose they were thus domesticated I could not
discover,

''Are these pet chickens of yours, Sir Hurricane ? " said I.

*' No/' said the admiral, ** but I mean them to be pet capons
by and by, when they come to table. I have finished a dozen
and a half this morning, besides that d — d old tom cat.*'

The mystery was now explained, and I afterwards found out
(every man having his hobby) that the idiosyncrasy of this officer's
disposition had led him to the practice of neutralizing the males
of any species of bird or beast, in order to render them more pala-
table at the table.

" Well, sir," he continued, " how do you like your new ship —
how do you like your old captain ? — good fellow, isn't he ? — -d — n
his eyes — countryman of mine — I knew him when his father hadn't
as much money as would jingle on a tombstone. That fellow owes

everything to me. I introduced him to the Duke of , and he

got on by that interest. But I say, what do you think of the
Halifax girls — nice I a'n't they ? "

I expressed my admiration of them.

**Ay, ay, they'll do, won't they? — we'll have some fine fun —
give the girls a party at George's Island — hay-making — green
gowns — ha, ha, ha I I say, your captain shall give us a party at
Turtle Cove. We are going to give the old commissioner a feed
at the Rockingham — blow thereof of his skull offwith champagne.
Do you dine at Birch Cove to-day ? No, I suppose you are
engaged to Miss Maria, or Miss Susan, or Miss Isabella — ha, sad
dog, sad dog!— done a great deal of mischief," surveying me
from head to foot.

I took the liberty of returning him the same compliment ; he was
a tall, rawboned man, with strongly marked features, and a smile
on his countenance that no modest woman could endure. In his
person he gave me the idea of a discharged life-guardsman ; but
from his face you might have supposed that he had sat for one
of Ruben's satyrs, ile was one of those people with whom you
become immediately acquainted ; and before I had been an hour
in his company, I laughed very heartily at his jokes — ■
not very delicate, I own, and for which he lost a considerable
portion of my respect; but he was a source of constant amuse-
ment to me, living as we did in the same house. '

262 FRANK MILDMAY.

I was just g'oing out of the room when he stopped me — "I
say, how should you like to be introduced to some devilish nice
Yankee girls, relations of mine, from Philadelphia ? and I should
be obliged to you to show them attention ; very pretty girls, I can
tell you, and will have good fortunes — ^you may go farther and fare
worse. The old dad is as rich as a Jew — ^got the gout in both
legs — can't hold out much longer — nice pickings at his money
bags, while the devil is picking his bones.*'

There was no withstanding such inducements, and I agreed that
he should present me the next day.

Our dialogue was interrupted by the master of the house and his
son, who gave me a hearty welcome ; the father had been a
widower for some years, and his only son Ned resided with him,
and was intended to succeed to his business as a merchant. We
adjourned to dress for dinner ; our bed-rooms were contiguous,
and we began to talk of Sir Hurricane.

''He is a strange mixture," said Ned. *'l love him for his
good temper; but I owe him a grudge for making mischief
between me and Maria ; besides, he talks balderdash before the
ladies and annoys them very much."

" I owe him a grudge too,'* said I, ** for sending me to sea in
a gale of wind."

*' We shall both be quits with him before long,'* said Ned ; " but
let us now go and meet him at dinner. To-morrow I will set the
housekeeper at him for his cruelty to fiier cat ; and if I am not much
mistaken she will pay him off for it."

Dinner passed off extremely well. The admiral was in high
spirits ; and as it was a bachelor's party, he earned his wine. The
next morning we met at breakfast. When that was over, the
master of the house retired to his office, or pretended to do so. I
was going out to walk, but Ned said I had better stay a few
minutes ; he had something to say to me ; in fact, he had prepared
a treat without my knowing it.

** How did you sleep last night. Sir Hurricane ? " said the artful
Ned.

*'Why, pretty well considering," said the admiral, "I was
not tormented by that old tom-cat. D — n me, sir, that fellow
was like the Grand Signior, and he kept his seraglio in the
garret over my bed-room, instead of being at his post in the
kitchen killing the rats that are running about like coach-
horses."

*' Sir Hurricane," said I, " it* s always unlucky to sailors if they
meddle with cats. You will have a gale of wind, in some shape
or another bafore long.'*

These words were scarcely uttered, when, as if by precon-
certed arrangement, the door opened, and in sailed Mrs.

FRANK MILDMAY. 263

Jellybag, the housekeeper, an elderly woman somewhere in
the latitude of fifty-five or sixty years. With a low courtesy and
contemptuous toss of her head, she addressed Sir Hurricane
Humbug.

"Pray, Sir Hurricane, what have you been doing to my
cat?'*

The admiral, who prided himself in putting any one who
applied to him on what he called the wrong scent, endeavoured to
play off Mrs. Jellybag in the same manner.

'* What have I done to your cat, my dear Mrs. Jellybag ? Why,
my dear madam," said he, assuming an air of surprise, ''what
sJiotcId I do to your cat ? ''

" You shouldhsye left him alone, Mr. Admiral ; that cat was
my property; if my master permits you to illtrcatthe poultry, that's
his concern ; but that cat was mine, Sir Hurricane — mine, every
inch of him. The animal has been ill-treated, and sits moping in
the corner of the fireplace as if he was dying ; " he*ll never be the
cat he was again."

" I don't think he ever will, my dear Mrs. Housekeeper," an-
swered the admiral drily.

The lady's wrath now began to kindle. The admiral's cool
replies were like water sprinkled upon a strong fiame, increasing
its force, instead of checking it.

" Don't dear vte, Sir Hurricane. I am not one of your dears
—your dears are all in Dutchtown, more shame for you — an old
man like you."

"Old man!'* cried Sir Hurricane, losing his placidity a
little.

" Yes, old man ; look at your hair — as grey as a goose's."

" Why, as for my hair, that proves nothing, Mrs. Jelly-
bag, for though there may be snow on the mountains
there is still heat in the valleys. What d'ye think of my
metaphor?"

"I am no more a metafore than yourself, Sir Hurricane ; but
I'll tell you what, you are a cock-and-hen admiral, a dog-in-the-
manger barrownight, who was jealous of my poor tom-cat,

because 1 won't say what. Yes, Sir Hurricane, all hours of

the day you are leering at every young woman that passes out of
our windows— and an old man too — you -ought to be ashamed of
yourself; and then you go to church of a Sunday, and cry, ' Good
Lord, deliver us.' "

The housekeeper now advanced so close to the admiral that
her nose nearly touched his, her arms akimbo, and every
preparation for boarding. The admiral, fearing she might not
confine herself to vocality, but begin to beat time with her fists,
thought it right to take up a position ; he therefore very

264 FRANK MILDMAY.

dexterously took two steps in the rear and mounted on a sofa ;
his left was defended by an uprig-ht piano, his right by the break-
fast table with all the tea-things on it ; his rear was against the
wall, and his front depended on himself in person From this
commanding eminence he now looked down on the house-
keeper, whose nose could reach no higher than the seals of her
adversary's watch; and in proportion as the baronet felt his
security, so rose his choler. Having been for many years
proctor at the great universities of Point-street and Blue-town,
as well as member of Barbican and North-corner, he was
perfectly qualified, in point of classical dialect, to maintain the
honour of his profession. Nor was the lady by any means
deficient. Although she had not taken her degree, her tongue
from constant use had acquired a fluency which nature only
concedes to practice.

It will not be expected, nor would it be proper, that I should
repeat all that passed in this concluding scene, in which the
housekeeper gave us good reason to suppose that she was not
quite so ignorant of the nature of the transaction as she would
have had us believe.

The battle having raged for half an hour with great fury, both
parties desisted, for want of breath, and consequently of
ammunition. This produced a gradual cessation of firing, and
by degrees the ships separated — the admiral, like Lord Howe
on the ist of June, preserving his position, though very much
mauled; and the housekeeper, like the Montague^ running
down to join her associates. A few random shots were ex-
changed as they parted, and at every second or third step on
the stairs, Mrs. Margaret brought to, and fired, until both were
quite out of range ; a distant rumbling noise was heard, and

the admiral concluded, by muttering that she might go

somewhere, but the word died between his teeth.

" There, admiral," said I, '* did not I tell you that you would
have a squall ? "

** Squall 1 yes — d— n my blood," wiping his face; "how the

.^ spray flew from the old beldame! She's fairly wetted my

trousers, by God ! Who'd ever thought that such a purring old

b — h could have shown such a set of claws ! War to the knife !

By heavens, I'll make her remember this."

Notwithstanding the admiral's threat, hostilities ceased from
that day. The cock-and-hen admiral found it convenient to
show a white feather; interest stood in the way, and barred him
from taking his revenge. Mrs. Jellybag was a faithful servant,
and our host neither liked that she should be interfered with,
or that his house should become an arena for such conflicts;
and the admiral, who was peculiarly tenacious of undrawing

FRANK MILDMAY. 265

the strings of his purse, found it convenient to make the first
advances. The affair was, therefore, amicably arranged — the
torn cat was, in consideration of his sufferings, created a
baronet, and was ever afterwards di,g;nified by the title of
Sir H. Htimbug ; who certainly was the most eligible person
to select for godfather, as he had taken the most effectual
means of weaning him from "the pomps and vanities of this
wicked world."

It was now about one o'clock, for this dispute had run away
with the best part of the morning, when Sir Hurricane said,
'*Come, youngster, don't forget your engagements— you know
I have got to introduce you to my pretty cousins — you must
mind your Ps and Qs with the uncle, for he is a sensible old
fellow — has read a great deal, and thinks America the first and
greatest country in the world."

We accordingly proceeded to the residence of the fair
strangers, who the admiral assured me had come to Halifax
from mere curiosity, under the protection of their uncle and aunt.
We knocked at the door, and the admiral inquired if Mrs.
M'Flihn was at home ; we were answered in the affirmative.
The servant asked our names. "Vice-admiral Sir Hurricane
Humbug," said I, "and Mr. Miidmay."

The drawing-room door was thrown open, and the man gave
our names with great propriety. In we walked ; a tall grave,
looking, elderly lady received us, standing bolt upright, in the
middle of the room ; the young ladies were seated at their
work.

"My dear Mrs. M'FHnn," said the admiral, "how do you
do ? I am delighted to see you and your fair nieces looking
so lovely this morning/' The lady bowed to this compliment — a
courtesy she was not quite up to — "Allow me to introduce my
gallant young friend, Mildmay — young ladies, take care of your
hearts — he is a great rogue, I assure you, though he smiles so

sweet upon you."

Mrs. M'FIinn bowed again to me, hoped I was very well, and
inquired " how long I had been in th.eQe. parts."

I replied that I had just returned from a cruise, but that I was
no stranger in Halifax.

"Come, officer," said the admiral, taking me by the arm,
"I see you are bashful — I must make you acquaintcrl with my
pretty cousins. This, sir, is Miss M'Flinn — her christian name
is Deiiverance. She is a young lady whose beauty is her least
recommendation."

" A very equivocal compliment," thought I.

"This, sir, is Miss Jemima; this is Miss Temperance; and
this is Miss Deborah. Now that you know them all by name.

266 FRANK MILDMAY.

and they know you, I hope you will contrive to make yourself both
useful and agreeable.'*

"A very pretty sinecure," thinks I to myself, "just as if I
had not my hands full already." However, as I never wanted
small talk for pretty faces, I began with Jemima. They were all
pretty, but she was a love — yet there was an awkwardness about
them that convinced me that they were not of the bon ton
of Philadelphia. The answers to all my questions were quick,
pert, and given with an air of assumed consequence ; at the same
time I observed a mode of expression, which, though English,
was not well-bred English.

*' Did you come through the United States," said I, '^ into the
British territory, or did you come by water ? "

** Oh, by water," screamed all the girls at once, ** and liked to
have been eaten up with the nasty roaches."

I did not exactly know what was meant by " roaches, but it
was explained to me soon after. I inquired whether they had
seen a British man-of-war, and whether they would like to
accompany me on board of that which I belonged to ? They all
screamed out at the same moment —

** No, we never have seen one, and should like to see it of all
things. When will you take us ? "

" To-morrow," said I, '* If the day should prove fine."

Here the admiral, who had been making by-play with the old

chaperon, turned round and said : —

" Well, Mr. Frank, I see you are getting on pretty well without

my assistance."'

** Oh, we all like him very much," said Temperance ; ** and he
says he will take us on board his ship."

" Softly, my dear," said the aunt ; " we must not think
of giving the gentleman the trouble until we are better
acquainted."

"I am sure, aunt," said Deborah, '* we are very well
acquainted."

"Then," said the aunt, seeing she was in the minority,
"suppose you and Sir Hurricane come and breakfast with us
to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock, after which we shall be
very much at your service."

Here the admiral looked at me with one of his impudent
leers, and burst into a loud laugh ; but I commanded my
countenance very weH, and rebuked him by a steady and
reserved look."

" I shall have great pleasure," said I to the lady, " in obeying
your orders from eleven to-morrow morning till the hour of
dinner, when I am engaged."

So saying, we both bowed, wished them a good morning, and

FRANK MILDMAY. 267

left the room. The door closed upon us, and I heard them all
exclaim — " What a charming young man ! "

I went on board, and told the first lieutenant what I had
done ; he, very good-naturedly, said he would do his best,
though the ship was not in order for showing, and would have
a boat ready for us at the dockyard stairs at one o'clock the

next day.

I went to breakfast at the appointed hour. The admiral did
not appear, but the ladies were all in readiness, and I was
introduced to their uncle — a plain, civil-spoken man with a strong
nasal twang. The repast was very good; and, as I had a great
deal of work before me, I made hay while the sun shone. When
the rage of hunger had been a little appeased, I made use of
the first belle to inquire if a lady whom I once had the honour
of knowing, was any relation of theirs, as she bore the same
name, and came, like them, from Philadelphia.

"Oh, dear, yes, indeed, she is a relation," said all the ladies
together ; ** we have not seen her this seven years, when did you

see her last ! "

1 replied that we had not met for some time ; but that the last

time I had heard of her, she was seen by a friend of mine at Turin
on the Po. The last syllable was no sooner out of my mouth than
tea, coffee, and chocolate was out of theirs, all spirting different
ways just like so many young grampuses. They jumped up from
the table, and ran away to their rooms, convulsed with laughter,
leaving me alone with their uncle. I was all amazement, and I
own I felt a little annoyed.

I asked if I had made any serious laj^sus^ or said anything
very ridiculous or indelicate ; if I had, I said I should never

forgive myself.

** Sir,*' said Mr. M*Flinn, *' I am very sure you meant nothing

indelicate ; but the refined society of Philadelphia, in which
these young ladies have been educated, attaches very different
meanings to certain words, to what you do in the old country.
The back settlements, for instance, so called by our ancestors,
we call the western settlements, and we apply the same term, by
analogy, to the human figure and dress. This is a mere little
explanation, which you will take as it is meant. It cannot be
expected ihaX foreigners ^ should understand the niceties of our

language."

I begged pardon for my ignorance ; and assured him 1 would
be more cautious in future. " Bui pray tell me,", said I, *' what
there was in my last observation which could have caused so
much mirth at my expense ? "

**Why, sir," said Mr. M'Fiinn, "you run me hard there;

268 FRANK MILDMAY.

but since you force me to explain myself, I must say that you
used a word exclusively confined to bed-chambers.'*

" But surely, sir/' said I, " you will allow that the name of
a celebrated river, renowned in the most ancient of our his-
tories, is not to be changed from such a refined notion of false
delicacy?"

"There you are wrong,*' said Mr. M'Flinn. "The French,
who are our instructors, in everything, teach us how to name
all these things ; and I think you will allow that they understand
true politeness."

I bowed to this dictum^ only observing that there was a point
in our language where delicacy became indelicate ; that I
thought the noble river had a priority of claim over a contemp-
tible vessel ; and, reverting to the former part of his discourse
I said that we in England were not ashamed to call things by
their proper names ; and that we considered it a great mark of
ill-breeding to go round about for a substitute to a common
word, the vulgar import of which a well bred and modest woman
ought never to have known. j^

The old gentleman felt a little abashed at this rebuke, and to
relieve him I changed the subject, hoping that the ladies would
forgive for this once, and return to their breakfasts.

" Why, as for that matter," said the gentleman, "the Phila-
delphia ladies have very delicate appetites, and I dare say they
have had enough.**

Finding I was not likely to gain ground on that tack, I
steered my own course, and finished my breakfast, comforting
myself that n>uch execution had been done by the ladies on the
commissariat department before the " Po " had made its

appearance.

By the time I had finished, the ladies had composed them-
selves ; and the pretty Jemima had recovered the saint-like
gravity of her lovely mouth. Decked in shawls and bonnets,
they expressed much impatience to be gone. We walked to
the dockyard, where a boat with a midshipman attended, and
in a few minutes conveyed us alongside of my ship. A painted
cask shaped like a chair, with a whip from the main yard-arm,
was let down into the boat ; and I carefully packed the fair
creatures two at a time, and sent them up. There was a good
deal of giggling, and screaming, and loud laughing, which
rather annoyed me ; for as they were not my friends, I had no
wish tiiat my messmates should think they belonged to that set
in Halifax in which I was so kindly received. i

f At length all were safely landed on the quarter-deck, without
the exposure of an ancle, which they all seemed to dread.

FRANK MILDMAY. 269

Whether their ancles were not quite so small as Mr. M'Flinn
wished me to suppose their appetites were, I cannot say.

" La, aunt ! " said Deborah, ''when I looked up in the air,
and saw you and Deliverance dangling over our heads, I thought
if the rope was to break, what a ' squash ' you would have come
on us : I am sure you would have launched us."

Determined to have the Philadelphia version of this elegant
phrase, I inquired what it meant, and was informed, that in
their country when anyone had his bowels squeezed out, they
called it *'^aunching.**

"Well," thought I, '* after this, you might swallow the Po
.without spoiling your breakfasts." The band struck up "Yankee
Doodle," the ladies were in ecstasy, and began to caper round
the quarter-deck.

"La, Jemima ! " said Deborah, "what have you done to the
western side of your gown 7 it is all over white."

This was soon brushed off, but the expression was never for-
gotten in the ship, and always ludicrously applied.

Having shown them the ship and all its wonders, I was glad
to conduct them back to the shore. When I met the admiral, I
told him I had done the honours, and hoped the next time he
had any female relatives he would keep his engagements and
attend to them himself.

" Why, now, who do you think they are .^ " said the admiral.

" Think 1" said I, "why, who should they be but your
Yankee cousins ? "

" Why, was you such a d — n flat as to believe what I said,
eh ? Why, their father keeps a shop of all sorts at Philadelphia,
and they were going to New York on a visit to some of their
relatives, when the ship they were in was taken and brought in
here."

"Then," said I, "these are not the ^(?^/(9/z of Philadelphia ?"

" Just as much as Nancy Dennis is the bon ton of Halifax,"
said the admiral ; " though the uncle, as I told you, is a sensible
fellow in his way." .

"Very well," said I. "you have caught me for once; but
remember, I pay you for it."

And I was not long in his debt. Had he not given me this
explanation, I should have received a very false impression of
the ladies of Philadelphia, and have done them an injustice
for which I should never have forgiven myself.

The time of our sailing drew near. This was always a melan-
choly time in Halifax ; but ray last act on shore was one which
created some mirth, and enlivened the gloom of my departure.
j\Iy friend Ned and myself had not yet had an opportunity of
paying off Sir Hurricane Humbug for telling tales to Maria,

R

170 FRANK MILDMAY.

andP for his false introduction to myself. One morning we both
came out of our rooms at the same moment, and were proceed-
ing to the breakfast parlour, when we spied the admiral per-
forming some experiment. Unfortunately for him, he was
seated in such a manner, just clear of a pent-house, as to be
visible from our position ; and at the same time, the collar of
his coat would exactly intersect the segment of a circle described
by any fluid, projected by us over this low roof, which would thus
act as a conductor into the very pole of his neck.

The housemaid (these housemaids are always the cause or
the instruments of mischief, either by design or neglect) had
left standing near the window a pail nearly filled with dirty
water, from the wash-hand basins, &c. Ned and I looked at
each other, then at the pail, and then at the admiral. Ned
thought of his Maria : I of my false introduction. Without
saying a word we both laid our hands on the pail, and in an in-
stant, souse went all the contents over the admiral.

*' 1 say, what's this?" he roared out. "Oh, you d — d ras-
cals ! ' '

He knew it could only be us. We laughed so immoderately,
that we had not the power to move or to speak; while the poor
admiral was spitting, spluttering, and coughing, enough to bring

his heart up.

'*You infernal villains! No respect for a flag officer? I'll
serve you out for this.**

The tears rolled down our cheeks ; but not with grief. As
soon as the admiral had suflBciently recovered himself to go in
pursuit, we thought it time to make sail. We knew we were
discovered; and as the matter could not be made worse, we
resolved to tell him what it was for. Ned began, —

" How do you do, admiral ? you have taken a shower-bath this

mornmg.*'

He looked up, with his teeth clenched — "Oh, it's you, is it?
Yes, I thought it could be no one else. Yes, I have had a
shower-bath, and be d — d to you, and that sea devil of a friend
of yours. Pretty pass the service has come to, when officers of
my rank are treated in this way. I'll make you both envy the
tom-cat.*'

" Beware the housekeeper, admiral," said Ned. ** Maria has
made it up with me, admiral, and she sends her love to you/*

"D— n Maria."

'' Oh,-very well, I'll tell her so,** said Ned.

'* Admiral," said I, " do you remember when you sent the

to sea in a gale of wind, when I was midshipman of her ? Well,
I got just as wet that night as you are now. Pray, admiral, have
you any commands to the Misses M'Fiinn ? "

FRANK MILDMAY. 271

*' 1*\\ tell you when I catch hold of you/' said Sir Hurricane,
as he moved up-stairs to his room, dripping like Pope's Lodona,
only not smelling so sweet.

Hearing a noise, the housekeeper came up, and all the family
assembled to condole with the humid admiral, but each enjoying
the joke as much as ourselves. We, however, paid rather dearly
for it. The admiral swore that neither of us should eat or drink
in the house for three days ; and Ned's father, though ready
to burst with laughter, was forced in common decency to say that
he thought the admiral perfectly right after so gross a violation of
hospitality.

I went and dined on board my ship, Ned went to a coffee-
house ; but on the third morning after the shower, I popped my
head into the breakfast parlour, and said, —

"Admiral, I have a good story to tell you, if you will let me
come in."

"I'd see you d d first, you young scum of a fish-pond.

Be off, or I'll shy the ham at your head."

"No, but indeed, my dear admiral, it is such a nice story; it
is one just to your fancy."

"Well then, stand there and tell it, but don't come in, for if
you do ■"

I stood at the door and told hiai the story.

"Well, now," said he, "that is a good story, and I will for-
give you for it." So with a hearty laugh at my ingenuity, he
promised to forgive us both, and I ran and fetched Ned to
breakfast.

This was the safest mode we could have adopted to get into
favour, for the admiral was a powerful, gigantic fellow, that could
have given us some very awkward squeezes. The peace was very
honourably kept, and the next day the ship sailed.

CHAPTER XXV.

They turned into a long and wide street, into which not a single living
figure appeared to break the perspective. Solitude is never so over-
powering as when it exists among the works of man. In old woods,
or on the tops of mountains, it is graceful and benignant, for it is a
home; but where thick dwellings are, it wears a ghost-like aspect.

We were ordered to look out for the American squadron that
had done so much mischief to our trade ; and directed our
course, for this purpose to the coast of Africa. We had been
out about ten days, when a vessel was seen from the mast-head.

272 FRANK MILDMAY.

We were at that time within about one hundred and eighty
leagues of the Cape de Verd Islands. We set all sail in chase,
and soon made her out to be a large frigate, who seemed to
have no objection to the meeting, but evidently tried her rate
of sailing with us occasionally : her behaviour left us no doubt
that she was an American frigate, and we cleared for action.

The captain, I believe, had never been in a sea-fight, or if he
had, he had entirely forgotten all he had learned ; for which
reason, in order to refresh his njemory, he laid upon the cap-
stan-head the famous epitome of John Hamilton Moore, now
obsolete, but held at that time to be one of the most Juminous
authors who had ever treated on maritime affairs. John, who
certainly gives a great deal of advice on every subject, has,
amongst other valuable directions, told us how to bring a ship
into action according to the best and most approved methods,
and how to take your enemy afterwards if you can. But the
said John must have thought red-hot shot could be heated by
a process somewhat similar to that by which he heated his own
nose, or he must entirely have forgotten "the manners and
customs in such cases used at sea," for he recommends, as a
prelude or first course to the entertainment, a good dose of
red-hot shot, served up the moment the guests are assembled;
but does not tell us where the said dishes are to be cooked.
No doubt whatever that a broadside composed of such in-
gredients, would be a great desideratum in favour of a victory,
especially if the enemy should happen to have none of his own to

give in return.

So thought his lordship, who, walking up to the first lieu-
tenant, said, —

** Mr. Thingamy, don't you think red-hot what-do-ye-call-
ams should be given in the first broadside to that thing-
ambob ? ' '

*' Red-hot shot, do you mean, my lord ? "

** Yes,'^ said his lordship ; " don't you think they would settle
his hash?"

" Where the devil are we to get them, my lord ? " said the first
lieutenant, who was not the same that wanted to fight me for saying
he was as clever a fellow as the captain : that man had been un-
shipped by the machinations of Toady.

" Very true," said his lordship.

We now approached the stranger very fast, when to our great
mortification she proved to be an English frig-ate ; made the
private signal ; it was answered ; showed her number, we showed
ours, and her captain being junior officer came on board, to pay
his respects and show his order. He was tliree weeks from
England, brought news of a peace with France, and, among

FRANK MILDMAY, 273

other treats, a navy list, which, next to a bottle of London
porter, is the greatest luxury to a sea officer in a foreign
climate.

Greedily did we all run over this interesting little book, and
among the names of the new-made commanders, I was over-
joyed to find my own : the last on the list, to be sure, but that
I cared not for. I received the congratulations of my mess-
mates. We parted company with the stranger, and steered for
the island of St. Jago, our captain intending to complete his
water in Port Praya Bay, previous to a long cruise after the
American squadron.

We found here a slave-vessel in charge of a naval officer, bound
to England ; and I thought this a good opportunity to quit, not
being over anxious to serve as a lieutenant when I knew I was a
commander. I was also particularly anxious to return to
England for many reasons, the hand of my dear Emily standing
at the head of them. I therefore requested the captain's per-
mission to quit the ship ; and as he wished to give an acting order
to one of his own followers, he consented. I took my leave of all
my messmates, and of my captain, who, though an unfeeling
coxcomb, and no sailor, certainly had some good points about
him : in fact, his lordship was a gentleman ; and had his ship
fallen in with an enemy, she would have been well fought, as he
had good officers, was sufficienty aware of his own incapability,
would take advice, and as a man of undaunted bravery was not
to be surpassed in the service.

On the third day after our arrival the frigate sailed. I went on
board the slaver, which had no slaves on board except four to
assist in working the vessel ; she was in a filthy state, and there
was no inn on shore, and of course no remedy. Port Praya is the
only good anchorage in the island ; the old town of St. Jago was
deserted, in consequence of their being only an open roadstead
before it, very unsafe for vessels to lie i^ The town of Port
Praya is a miserable assemblage of mud huts ; the governor's
house, and one more, are better built, but they are not so com-
fortable as a cottage in England. There were not ten Portuguese
on the island, and above ten thousand blacks, all originally slaves;
and yet everything was peaceable, although fresh arrivals of slaves
came every day.

It was easy to distinguish the different races ; the Yatoffes
are tall men, not very stoutly built ; most of them are soldiers.
I have seen ten of them standing together, the lowest not less
than six feet two or three inches. The Foulahs, from the
Ashantee country are another race; they are powerful and
muscular, ill-featured, badly disposed, and treacherous. The

374 FRANK MILDMAY.

Mandingoes are a smaller race than the others, but they are
well disposed and tractable.

This island of slaves is kept in subjection by slaves only,
who are enrolled as soldiers, miserably equipped ; a cap and
a jacket were all they owed to art ; . nature provided the rest
of their uniform. The governor's orderly alone sported a pair
of trousers, and these were on permanent duty, being trans-
ferred from one to the other as their turn for that service
came on.

I paid my respects to the governor, who, although a Portuguese,
chose to follow the fashion of the island, and was as black as
most of his subjects. After a few French compliments, I took my
leave. I was curious to see the old town of St. Jago which had
been abandoned; and after a hot walk of two hours over un-
cultivated ground covered with fine goats, which are the staple of
the island, I reached the desolate spot.

It was melancholy to behold ; it seemed as if the human race
were extinct. The town was built on a wide ravine, running
down to the sea ; the houses were of stone, and handsome ; the
streets regular and paved, which proves that it had formerly been
a place of some importance ; but it is surprising that a spot so
barren as this island generally is, should ever have had any
mercantile prosperity. Whatever it did enjoy, I should con-
ceive must have been anterior to the Portuguese having
sailed round the Cape of Good Hope : and the solidity and
even elegance of construction among the buildings justifies the
supposition.

The walls were massive and remained entire ; the churches were
numerous, but the roofs of them and the dwelling-houses had

mostly fallen in. Trees had grown to a considerable height in the
midst of the streets, piercing through the pavements and raising
the stones on each side ; and the convent gardens were a mere
wilderness. The cocoa-nut had thrust its head through many a
roof, and its long stems through the tops of the houses ; the
banana luxuriated out of the windows. The only inhabitants
of a town capable of containing ten thousand inhabitants, were
a few friars, who resided in a miserable ruin which had once been
a beautiful convent. They were the first negro friars I had ever
seen ; their cowls were as black as their faces, and their hair
grey and woolly. I concluded they had adopted this mode of
life as being the laziest ; but I could not discover by what
means they could gain a livelihood, for there were none to give
them anything in charity.

The appearance of these poor men added infinitely to the
necromantic character of the whole melancholy scene. There
was a beauty, a loveliness, in these venerable ruins, which de-

FRANK MILDMAY. tys

lighted me. There was a solemn silence in the town ; but
there was a small, still voice, that said to me, — "London may
one day be the same — and Paris; and you and your children's
children will all have lived, and had their loves and adventures ;
but who will the wretched man be that shall sit on the summit of
Primrose Hill, and look down upon the desolation of the mighty
city, as you, from this little eminence, behold the once flourishing
town of St. Jago ?"

The go.ats were browsing on the side of the hill, and the little

kids frisking by their dams. *' These/' thought I, *' perhaps are

the only food and nourishment of these poor friars. I walked to

Port Praya, and returned to my floating prison, the slave-ship.

The officer who was conducting her home, as a prize, was not a

pleasant man ; I did not like him, and nothing passed between us

but common civility. He was an old master*s mate, who had

probably served his time thrice over ; but having no merit of his

own, and no friends to cause that defect to be overlooked, he had

never obtained promotion : he therefore naturally looked on a

young commander with envy. He had only given me a passage

home from motives which he could not resist ; first, because he

was forced to obey the orders of my late captain ; and, secondly,

because my purse would supply the cabin with the necessary stock

of refreshments, in the shape of fruit, poultry, and vegetables,

which are to be procured at Port Praya ; he was, therefore, under

the necessity of enduring my company.

The vessel, I found, was not to sail on the following day, as he
intended. I therefore took my gun at daybreak, and wandered
with a guide, up the valleys, in search of the pm^ados, or Guinea
fowl with which the island abounds ; but they were so shy that I
could never- get a shot at them ; and I returned over the hills,
which my guide assured me was the shortest way. Tired with my
walk, I was not sorry to arrive at a sheltered valley,
where the palmetto and the plantain offer a friendly shade
from the burning sun. The guide, with wonderful agility, mounted
the cocoanut-tree, and threw down half a dozen nuts. They were
green, and their milk I thought the most refreshing and delicious
draught I had ever taken.

The vesper bells at Port Praya were now summoning the poor
black friars to their devotion ; and a stir and bustle appeared
among the little black boys and girls, of whose presence I was till
then ignorant. They ran from the coverts, and assembled near
the front of the only cottage visible to my eye. A tall elderly negro
man came out, and took his seat on a mound of turf, a few feet
from the cottage ; he was followed by a lad, about twenty years of
age, who bore in his hand a formidable cowskin. For the infor-
mation of my readers, I must observe that a cowskin is a large

2;6 FRANK MILDMAY,

whip, made like a riding whip out of the hide of the hippopotamus,
or sea-cow, and is proverbial for the severity of punishme't it is
capable of inflicting-. After the executioner, came, with slbw and
measured steps, the poor little culprits five boys and three girls,
who, with most rueful faces, ranged themselves rank and file,

before the old man.

I soon perceived that the hands were turned up for punishment ;
but the nature of the offence I had yet to learn ; nor did I know
whether any order had been given to strip. With the boys this
would have been supererogatory, as they were quite naked. The
female children had on cotton chemises, which they slowly and
reluctantly rolled up, until they had gathered them close under
their armpits.

The old man then ordered the eldest boy to begin his Pater
Noster ; and simultaneously the whipper-in elevated his cow-skin
by way of encouragement. The poor boy watched it, out of the
corner of his eye, and then began, " Pattery Nobstur, qui, qui,
qui — (here he received a most severe lash from the cowskin bearer)
• — is in silly," roared the boy, as if the continuation had been ex-
pelled from his mouth by the application of external force in an
opposite direction — " sancty fisheter nom turn, adveny regnum
turn, fi notun tas, ta ti, tu, terror," roared the poor fellow, as he
saw the lash descending on his defenceless back.

"Terror, indeed," thought I.

" Pannum Nossum quotditty hamminum da nobs holyday, e
missy nobs, debitty nossa si cut nos demittimissibus debetenibas
nossimus e, ne, nos hem-duckam in, in, in, temptationemum, sed
lilibery nos a ma — ma — " Here a heavy lash brought the very
Oh! that was "caret'' to complete the sentence.

My readers are not to suppose that the rest of the class acquit-
ted themselves wirti as much ability as their leader, who, compared
to them, was perfectly erudite ; the others received a lash for every
word, or nearly so The boys were first disposed of, in order, I

suppose that they might have the full benefit of the applicant's
muscles ; while the poor girls had the additional pleasure of wit-
nessing the castigation until their turn came ; and that they were
aware of what awaited them was evident, from the previous
arrangement and disposition of dress, at the commencement of the
entertainment. The girls accordingly came up one after another
to say their Ave Maria, as more consonant to their sex ; but I
could scarcely contain my rage when the rascally cowskin was
applied to them, or my laughter when, smarting under its lash,
they exclaimed, '* Benedicta Mulieribus," applying their Httle
hands with immoderate pressure to the afflicted part.

I could have found in my heart to have wrested the whip out of
the hands of the young negro, and applied it with all my might to

FRANK MILDMAY. 277

him, and his old villain of a master, and father of these poor chil-
dren, as I soon found he was. M)' patience was almost gone when
the second girl received a lash for her "Plena Gratia." She
screamed, and danced, and lifted up her poor legs in agony, rub-
bing herself on her *'west" side, as the Philadelphia ladies call
it, with as much assiduity as if it had been one of those cases in
which friction is prescribed by the faculty.

But the climax was yet to come. A grand stage effect was to
be produced before the falling of the curtain. The youngest girl
was so defective in her lesson that not one word could be extracted
from her, even by the cowskin ; nothing but piercing shrieks,
enough to make my heart bleed, could the poor victim utter.
Irritated by the child's want of capacity to repeat by rote what she
could not understand, the old man darted from his seat, and struck
her senseless to the ground.

I could bear no more. My first impulse was to wrest the cow-
skin from the negro's hand, and revenge the pooi: bleeding child
as she lay motionless on the ground, but a moment's reflection
convinced me that such a step would only have brought down a
double weight of punishment on the victims when I was gone ; so,
catching up my hat, I turned away with disgust, and walked slowly
towards the town and bay of Port Praya, reflecting as I went along
what pleasant ideas the poor creatures must entertain of relio;ion,
when the name of God and of the cowskin were invariably
associated in their minds. I began to parody one of Watts's
hymns —

•*Lord ! how delightful 'tis to see
A whole assembly worship thee.*'

The indignation I felt against this barbarous and ignorant
negro was not unmingled .with some painful recollections of my
own younger days, when, in a Christian and Protestant country, the
Bible and Prayer-book had been made objects of terror to my
mind ; tasks greater than my capacity could compass, and
floggings in proportion, were not calculated to forward the cause
of religious instruction in the mind of an obstinate bo^

Reaching the water-side, I embarked on board of my slaver;
and the next day sailed for England. We had a favourable
passage until we reached the chops of the Channel, when a gale
of wind from the north-east caught us, and drove us down so
far to the southward that the prize-master found himself under
the necessity of putting into Bordeaux to refit, and to replenish
his water.

I was not sorry for this, as I was tired of the company of this
ofiBcer, who was both illiterate and ill-natured, neither a sailor

2^% FRANK MILDMAY.

nor a gentleman. Like many others in the service, who are
most loud in their complaints for the want of promotion, I con-
sidered that even in his present rank he was what we called a
king's hard bargain — that is, not worth his salt ; and promoting
men of his stamp would only have been picking the pocket of
the country. As soon, therefore, as we had anchored in the
Gironde, off the city of Bordeaux, and had been visited by the
proper authorities, I quitted the vessel and her captain, and went
on shore.

Taking up my abode at the Hotel d'Angleterre, my first care
was to order a good dinner ; and having despatched that, and
a bottle of Vin de Beaune (which, by-the-by, I strongly recom-
mend to all travellers, if they can get it, for I am no bad judge),
I asked my valet de place how I was to dispose of myself for the
remainder of the evening.

*' Mais^ monsieur*^ said he, " il faut aller au spectacle,^*

^^ A lions, '^ said I; and in a few minutes I was seated in the
stage-box of the handsomest theatre in the world.

What stran ;-e events — -what unexpected meetings and sudden
separations are sailors liable to — what sudden transitions from
grief to joy, from joy to grief — from want to affluence, from affiu-
ence to want ! All this the history of vtiy life, for the last six
months, will fully illustrate.

CHAPTER XXVI.

You will proceed in pleasure and in pride.

Beloved, and loving : all is o'er
For me on earth, except some years to hide

My shame and sorrow deep in ray heart's core.

** Don Juan."

I PAID little attention to the performance, for the moment I came
to the house, my eyes were riveted on an object from which I
found it impossible to remove them. "It is," said I, " and yet
it cannot be ; and yet why should it not ? " A young lady sat in
one of the boxes ; she was elegantly attired, and seemed to
occupy the united attentions of many Frenchmen, who eagerly
caught her smiles.

'* Either that is Eugenia," thought I, *' or I have fallen asleep
in the ruins of St. Jago, and am dreaming of her. That is
Eugenia, or I am not Frank. It is she, or it is her ghost ! "
Still I had not that moral certainty of the identity, as to enable
nje to go at once to her and address her. Indeed, had I been

FRANK MILDMAY. 279

certain, all things considered, the situation we were in would have
rendered such a step highly improper.

" If that be Eugenia," tbou.<^ht I, again, "she has improved
both in manner and person. She has a becoming embo?ipoi?ity
and an 2ax de bonne societe, which when we parted she had not."

The more intensely I gazed, the more convinced was I that I
was right ; the immovable devotion of my eyes attracted the atten-
tion of a French officer, who sat near me.

" C^est unejolie femme, n' est-ce ^as ; monsieur ?^^

" Vraiment,^^ said I. " Do you know her name? "

'* Elle s^a;pfclle Madame de Rosenberg.''''

" Then I am wrong after all," said I to myself. " Has she a
husband, sir?"

" Pa7'donnez-fnoiy elle est veuve, fnais elle e un ;petit gargon
de cinq ans, beau comme un ange''

" That is she/' said I, again reviving. " Is she a French-
woman ? "

*' Du tout J monsieur, elle est une devos com;patriotes ; e'en
est un fortjoli exeniplaire'^

She had only been three months at Bordeaux, and had refused
many very good offers in marriage. Such was the information
I obtained from my obliging neighbour ; and I was now con-
vinced that Madame de Rosenberg could be no other than
Eugenia. Every endeavour to catch her eye proved abortive.
My only hope was to follow the carriage.

When the play was over, I waited with an impatience like that
of a spirited hunter who hears the hounds. At last, the infernal
squalling of the vocalists ceased, but not before I had devoutly
wished that all the wax candles in the house were down their
throats and burning there. I saw one of the gentlemen in the
box placing the shawl over her shoulders with the most careful
attention, while the bystanders seemed ready to tear him in
pieces from envy. I hurried to the door, and saw her handed
into her carriage, which drove off at a great pace. I ran
after it, jumped up behind, and took my station by the side of the

footman .

'* Descendez done, 7nonsieur / " said the man.

" rilbe d— dif I do," said I.

" Comment done ? " said the man.

2ais-toi, bite,'^ said I, " ouje te brulerm la cervelle'''

Vous f- tf," said the man, who behaved very well, and

instantly began to remove me vi et ar?nis ; but I planted a sto-
macher in his fifth button, which I knew would put him hors de
combat for a few minutes, and by that time, at the rate the car-
riage was driving, my purpose would have been answered. The

28o FRANK MILDMAY.

fellow lost his breath — could not hold on or speak — so tumbled
off and lay in the middle of the road.

As he fell upon dry ground and was not an English sailor, I did
not jump after him, but left him to his own ease, and we saw
no more of him, for we were going ten knots, while he lay
becalmed without a breath of wind. This was one of the most
successful acts of usurpation recorded in modern history. It
has its parallels, I know ; but I cannot now stop to comment on
them, or on my own folly and precipitation. I was as firmly fixed
behind the carriage, as Buonaparte was on the throne of France
after the battle of Eylau.

We stopped at a large ;porte cochere^ being the entrance to a
very grand house, with lamps at the door, within a spacious
courtyard ; we drove in and drew up. I was down in a moment,
opened the carriage door, and let down the steps. The lady
descended, laid her hand on my arm without perceiving that
she had changed her footman, and tripped lightly up the stairs.
I followed her into a handsome saloon, where another servant
in livery had placed lights on the table. She turned round, saw
me, and fainted in my arms.

It was, indeed, Eugenia herself; and with all due respect to
my dear Emily, I borrowed a thousand kisses while she lay in
a state of torpor, on a fauteuil to which I carried her. It was
some few minutes before she opened her eyes ; the man-servant
who had brought the lights, very properly never quitted the room,
but was perfectly respectful in his manner, rightly conceiving that
I had some authority for my proceedings.

** My dearest Frank,'* said Eugenia, ** what an unexpected
meeting. What, in the name of fortune, could have brought you
here ? ' '

"That," said I, " is a story too long, Eugenia, for a moment
so interesting as this. I also might ask you the same question ;
but it is now one o'clock in the morning, and, therefore, too late
to begin with inquiry. This one question, however, I must ask
— are you a mother ? *'

"I am/' said Eugenia, '* of the most lovely boy that ever
blessed the eyes of a parent; he is now in perfect health, and
fast asleep — come to-morrow, at ten o'clock, and you shall see
him."

"To-morrow," said I, with surprise; ** to-morrow, Eugenia?
why am I to quit your house ? "

"That also you shall know to-morrow," said she; "but now
you must do as you are desired. To-morrow, I will be at home to
no one but you."

Knowing Eugenia as I did, it was sufficient th;tt she had

^RANK MILDMAY. 281

decided. There was no appeal; so, kissing her again, I wished
her a good night, quitted her, and retired to my hotel. What a
night of tumult did I pass ! I was tossed from Emily to
Eugenia, like a shuttlecock between two battledores. The
latter never looked so lovely ; and to the natural loveliness of
her person was added a grace and a polish which gave a lustre
to her charms, which almost served Emily as I had served the
footman I never once closed my eyes during the night — ■
dressed early the next morning, walked about, looked at ChSteau
Trompette and the Roman ruins — thought the hour often would
never strike, and when it did, I struck the same moment at her
door.

The man who opened it to me was the same whom I had
treated so ill the night before; the moment he saw me, he put
himself into an attitude at once of attack, defence, remon-
siranco, and revenge, all connected with the affair of the pre-
ceding etening,

''Ah, ah, vims voila done / ce n'' etait pas Men fait tnonsietir .^^
_ " Otii,'' said I, " tr^s 72 ette7nent fatty et voila encore,^' slip-
ping a Napoleon into his hand.

" Ca s' arra7tge tres joIi?}ie7ity mojisieii?','''' said the man, grin-
ning from ear to ear, and bowing to the ground.
Oest fnadame que vous votdez dofic ? **
Ouiy' said I.

He led, I followed ; he opened the door of a breakfast parlour
— " Tenez, niada77ie, voici le f)t07isieur qui m^a renverse hier
ate sozr.'^

Eugenia was seated on a sofa, with her boy by her side, the
loveliest little fellow I had ever beheld. His face was one often
described, but rarely seen ; it was shaded with dark curling
ringlets, his mouth, eyes, and complexion had much of his
mother, and vanity whispered me, much more of myself. I took
a seat on the sofa, and with the boy on my knee, and Eugenia
by my side, held her hand, while she narrated the events of her
life since the time of our separation.

''A few days," said she, " after your departure for the Flushing
expedition, I read in the public prints, that Mf the nearest rela-
tions of my mother would call at , in London, they would hear

of something to their advantage.' I wrote to the agent, from
whom I learned, after proving my identity, that the two sisters of
my mother, who, you may remember, had like sums left them by
the will of their relative, had continued to live in a state of single
blessedness ; that, about four years previously, one of them had
died, leaving everything to the other, and that the other had died
only two months before, bequeathing all her property to my mother
or her next heir ; or, in default of that, to some distant relation.

it

282 FRANK MILDMAt^.

I therefore immediately came into a fortune of ten thousand
pounds, with interest; and I was further informed that a great
uncle of mine was still Hving, without heirs, and was most anxious
that my mother or her heirs should be discovered. An invitation
was therefore sent to me to go down to him, and to make his house
my future residence.

''At that time the effects of my indiscretion were but too
apparent, and rendered, as I thought, deception justifiable. I put
on widow's weeds, and gave out that my husband was a young
officer, who had fallen a victim to the fatal Walcheren fever ; that
our marriage had been clandestine, and unknown to any of his
friends : such was my story and appearance before the agent, who
believed me. The same fabrication was put upon my grand- uncle,
with equal success. I was received into his house with parental
affection ; and in that house I gave birth to the dear child you
now hold in your arms — to your child, my Frank — to the only child
I shall ever have. Yes, dear Eugenia," continued she, pressing
her rosy lips on the broad white neck of the child, " you shall be
my only care, my solace, my comfort, and my joy. Heaven, in
its mercy, sent the cherub to console its wretched mother in the
double pangs of guilt and separation from all she loved; and
Heaven shall be repaid, by my retura to its slighted, its insulted
laws. I feel that my sin is forgiven ; for I have besought forgive-
ness night and day, with bitter tears, and Heaven has heard my
prayer. ' Go and sin no more,* was said to me : aiid upon these
terms I have received forgiveness.

*' You will no doubt ask why did I not let you know all this, and
why I so carefully secreted myself from you. My reasons were
founded on the known impetuosity of your character. You, my
beloved, who could brave death, and all the military consequences
of desertion from a ship lying at Spithead, were not likely to listen
to the suggestions of prudence when Eugenia was to be found;
and, having once given out that I was a widow, I resolved to pre-
serve the consistency of my character for my own sake — for your
sake, and for the sake of this blessed child, the only drop that has
sweetened my cup of affliction. Had you by any means discovered
my place of abode, the peace of my uncle's house, and the pros-
pects of my child, had been for ever blasted.

" Now then, say, Frank, have I, or have I not, acted the part
of a Roman mother ? My grand-uncle having declared his in-
tention of making me heir to his property, for his sake, and
yours, and for my child, I have preserved the strict line of duty,
from which God, in his infinite mercy, grant that I may never
depart !

*' Ifirstresolveduponnotseeing you until I could be more my own
mistref^'^ • and when, at the deatli of my respected relative, ' I was

FRANK M1LDMA.Y. 283

not only released from any restraint on account of his feelings, but
also became still more independent in my circvimslances, you
might be surprised that I did not immediately impart to you the
change of fortune which would have enabled us to have enjoyed
the comfort of unrestricted communication. But time, reflection,
the conversation and society of my uncle and his select friends,
the care of my infant, and the reading of many excellent books
had wrought a great change in my sentiments. Having once
tasted the pleasures of society among virtuous women, I vowed to
Heaven that no future act of mine should ever drive me from it.
The past could not be recalled ; but the future was my own ^

'* I took the sacrament after a long and serious course of read-
ing ; and, having made my vows at the altar, with the help of
God, they are unchangeable. Dramatic works, t-he pernicious
study and poison of my youthful ardent mind, I have long since
discarded ; and I had resolved never to see you again, until after
your marriage with Miss Somerville had been solemnized. Start
not I By the simplest and easiest means I have known all your
movements — your dangers, your escapes, your undaunted acts of
bravery and self-devotion for the sake of others.

** * Shall I then,' said I to myself, * blast the prospects of the
man I love — the father of my boy ? Shall I, to gratify the poor,
pitiful ambition of becoming the wife of him to whom I once was
the mistress, sacrifice thus the hopes and fortune of himself and
family-, the reward of a virtuous maiden ? ' In all this I hope you
will perceive a proper share of self-denial. Many, many floods of
bitter tears of repentance and regret have I shed over my past
conduct; and I trust, that what I have suffered and what 1 shall
suffer, will be received as my atonement at the Throne of Grace.
True, I once looked forward to the happy period of our union,
when I might have offered myself to you, not as a portionless
bride ; but i was checked by one maddening, burning, in-
extinguishable thought. I ^ould not be received into that society
to which you were entitled, I felt that I loved you, Frank, — loved
you too well to betray you. The woman that Jiad so little respect
for herself was unfit to be the wife of Francis Mildmay.

"Besides, how could I do my sweet boy the injustice to
allow him to have brothers and sisters possessing legitimate
advantages over him ? I felt that our union never could be one
of happiness, even if you consented to take me as your wife, of
which I had my doubts ; and when I discovered, through my
emissaries, that you were on the point of marriage with Miss
Somerville, I felt that it was all for the best ; that I had no right
to complain ; the tnore so as it was I who (1 blush to say it) had
seduced you.

** But Frank, if I cannot be your wife- and, alas ! I know too

284 FRANK MiLDMAY.

well that that is impossible— will you allow me to be your friend,
your dear friend, as the mother of your child, or, if you please, as
your sister ? But there the sacred line is drawn ; it is a compact
between my God and myself. You know my firmness and decision ;
once maturely deliberated, my resolution formed, it is not, I think,
in man to turn me ' Do not, therefore, make the attempt; it will
only end in your certain defeat and shame, and in my withdrawing
from your sight for ever. You will not, I am sure, pay me so bad
a compliment as to wish me to renew the follies of my youth. If
you love me, respect me, promise by the love you bear to Miss
Somervilie, and your affection for this poor boy, that you will do
as I wish you. Your honour and peace of mind, as well as mine,
demand it."

This severe rebuke from a quarter whence I least expected it,
threw me back with shame and confusion. As if a mirror had
been held up to me, I saw my own deformity. I saw that Eugenia
was not only the guardian of her own honour, but of mine, and of
the happiness of Miss Somervilie, against whom I now stood con-
victed of foul deceit and shameful wrong. I acknowledged my
fault ; I assured Eugenia that I was bound to her by every tie of
honour, esteem, and love ; and that her boy and mine should be
our mutual care.

*' Thank you, dearest," said she; **you have taken a heavy
load from my mind : henceforth remember we are brother and
sister. I shall now be able to enjoy the pleasure of your society ;
and now as that point is settled, let me know what has occurred
to you since we parted — the particulars, I mean, for the outline I
have heard before."

I related to her everything which had happened to me, from the
hour of our separation to the moment I saw her so unexpectedly
in the theatre. She was alternately affected with terror, surprise,
and laughter. She took a hearty crying spell over the motionless
bodies of Clara and Emily, as they lay on the floor; but recovered
from that, and went into hysterics of laughter, when I described
the footman's mistake, and the slap on the face bestowed on him

by the housemaid.

My mind was not naturally corrupt ; it was only so at times,
and from peculiar circumstances ; but I was always generous,
and easily recalled to a sense of my duty when reminded of my
fault. Not for an empire would I have persuaded Eugenia to
break her vow. I loved and respected the mother of my child ;
the more when I reflected that she had been the means of
preserving my fidelity to Emily. 1 rejoiced to think that my
friendship for the one, and love for the other, were not incom-
patible. I wrote immediately to Emily, announcing my speedy
return to England.

FRANK MILDMAY. 285

" Having the most perfect reliance on your hononr, I shall now/ '
said Eugenia, *' accept your escort to London, where my presence
is required. Pierre shall accompany us — he is a faithful creature,
though you have used him so ill."

*' That," said I, *' is all made up, and Pierre will be heartily
glad of another tumble for the same price."

All our arrangements were speedily made. The house was
given up — ^a roomy travelling-barouche received all our trunks ;
and, seated by the side of Eugenia, with the child between us,
we crossed the Gironde, and took our way through Poictiers,
Tours, and Orleans, to Paris ; here we remained but a short
time. Neither of us was pleased with the manners and habits of
the French ; but as they have been so fully described by the swarms
of English travellers who have infested that country with their
presence, and this with the fruits of their labours, I shall pass as
quietly through France, as I hope to do through the Thames
Tunnel, when it is completed, but not before.

Eugenia consulted me as to her future residence ; and here I
own I committed a great error, but, I declare to Heaven, without
any criminal intention. I ventured to suggest that she should
live in a very pretty village a few miles from Hall, the resi-
dence of Mr. Somerville, and where, after my marriage, it was
intended I should continue to reside with Emily. To this village,
then, I directed her to go, assuring her that I should often ride
over and visit her.

'* Much as I should enjoy your company, Frank," said
Eugenia, ** this is a measure fraught with evil to all parties ; nor
is it fair dealing towards your future wife."

Unhappily for me, that turn for duplicity which I nad im-
bibed in early life had not forsaken me, notwithstanding the
warnings I had received and the promises of amendment which
I had made. Flattering myself that I intended no harm, I
overruled all the scruples of the excellent Eugenia. She des-
patched a confidential person to the village ; on the outskirts of
which he procured for her a commodious, and even elegant
cottage orne^ ready furnished. She went down with her
child and Pierre to take possession ; and I to my father's
house, where my appearance was hailed as a signal for a grand
jubilee.

Clara, I found, had entirely changed her unfavourable opinion
of sea-officers, induced thereto by the engaging manners of my
friend Talbot, on whom I was delighted to learn she was about
to bestow her very pretty little white hand at the altar. This
was a great triumph to the navy, for I always told Clara, laugh-
ingly, that I never would forgive her if she quitted the service ;

S

286 FRANK MILDMAY.

and as I entertained the highest respect for Talbot, I considered
the prospects of my sister were very bright and flattering, and
that she had made a choice very hkely to secure her happiness.
" Rule Britannia,*' said I to Clara ; " Blue for ever ! "

The next morning I started for Mr. Somerville's, where I was,
of course, received with open arms ; and the party, a few days
after, having been increased by the arrival of my father, with
Clara and Talbot, I was as happy as a human being could be.
Six weeks was the period assigned by my fair one as the very
shortest in which she could get rigged, bend new sails, and prepare
for the long and sometimes tedious voyage of matrimony. I re-
monstrated at the unconscionable delay.

" Long as it may appear,'* said she, " it is much less time than
you took to fit out your fine frigate for North America.'*

"That frigate was not got ready even then by any hurry of
mine," said I; *'and if ever I come to be First Lord of the
Admiralty, I shall have a bright eye on the young lieutenants and
their sweethearts at Blackheath, particularly when a ship is fitting
in a hurry at Woolwich."

Much of this kind of sparring went on, to the great amusement
of all parties ; meanwhile the ladies employed themselves in
running up milliners* bills, and their papas employed them-
selves in discharging them. My father was particularly liberal to
Emily in the articles of plate and jewellery, and Mr. Somerville
equally kind to Clara. Emily received a trinket-box, so beauti-
fully fitted and so well filled, that it required a cheque of no trifling
magnitude to cry quits with the jeweller; indeed, my father's
kindness was so great that I was forced to beg he would set some
bounds to his liberality.

I was so busy and so happy that I had let three weeks pass over
my head without seeing Eugenia. I dreamed of her at last, and
thought she upbraided me ; and the next day, full of my dream,
as soon as breakfast was over, I recommended the young ladies
to the care of Talbot, and, mounting my horse, rode over to see
Eugenia, She received me kindly, but she had suffered in her
health, and was much out of spirits. I inquired the reason, and
she burst into tears. "I shall be better, Frank,*' said she, **when
all is over, but I must suffer now ; and I suffer the more acutely
from a conviction that I am only paying the penalty of my own
crime. Perhaps," continued she, *' had I never departed from
virtue, I might at this moment have held in your heart the envied
place of Miss Somerville ; but as the righteous decrees of Provi-
dence have provided punishment to tread fast in the footsteps of
guilt, I am now expiating my faults, and I have a presentiment

that although the struggle is bitter, it will soon be over. God's

FRANK MILDMAY. 2?;

will be done ; and may you, my dear Frank, have many, many
happy years in the society of one you are bound to love before the
unhappy Eugenia,"

Here she sank on a sofa, and again wept bitterly.

" I feel," said she, ** now, but it is too late — I feel that I have
acted wrongly in quitting Bordeaux. There I was loved and
respected ; and if not happy, at least I was composed. Too much
dependence on my resolution, and the vanity of supposing myself
superior in magnanimity to the rest of my sex, induced me to trust
myself in your society. Dearly, alas ! have "I paid for it. My
only chance of victory over myself was flight from you, after I had
given the irrevocable sentence ; by not doing so, the poison has
found its way to my heart. I feel that I love you ; that I cannot
have you ; and that death very shortly must terminate my in-
tolerable sufferings."

This affecting address pierced me to the soul; and now the
consequences of my guilt and duplicity rushed upon me like a
torrent through a bursting flood gate. I would have resigned
Emily — I would have fled with Eugenia to some distant country,
and buried our sorrows in each other's bosoms ; and, in a state of
irrepressible emotion, I proposed this step to her.

** What do I hear, my beloved?" said she, starting up with
horror from the couch on which she was sitting with her face
between her knees; "what! is it you that would resign home,
friends, character, the possession of a virtuous woman, all for
the polluted smiles of an ' '

"Hold! hold! my Eugenia," said I; "do not, I beseech
you, shock my ears with an epithet which you do not deserve !
Mine, mine, is all the guilt; forget me, and you will still be

happy."

She looked at me, then at her sweet boy, who was playing on
the carpet — but she made no answer ; and then a flood of tears
succeeded.

It was, indeed, a case of singular calamity for a beautiful
young creature to be placed in. She was only in her three-and-
twentieth year— and lovely as she was, nature had scarcely had
time to finish the picture. The regrets which subdued my mind
on that fatal morning may only be conceived by those who, like
me, have led a licentious life — have, for a time, buried all moral
and religious feeling, and have been suddenly called to a full
sense of their guilt, and the misery they have entailed on the
innocent. I sat down and groaned. I cannot say I wept, for I
could not weep; but my forehead burned, and my heart was full
of bitterness.

While I thus meditated, Eugenia sat with her hand on her fore-
head in a musing attitude. Had she been reverting to her former

288 FRANK MILDMAY.

studies and thrown herself into the finest conceivable posture of
the tragic muse, her appearance would not have been half so
beautiful and affecting. I thought she was praying, and I think
so still. The tears ran in silence down her face ; I kissed them
off, and almost forgot Emily.

" I am better, now, Frank," said the poor, sorrowful woman ;
" do not come again until after the wedding. When will it take
place ? " she inquired, with a trembling and faltering voice.

My heart almost burst within me as I told her, for I felt as if
I was signing a warrant for her execution. I took her in my arms,
and tenderly embracing her, endeavoured to divert her thoughts
from the mournful fate that too evidently hung over her ; she be-
came tranquil, and I proposed taking a stroll in the adjoiningpark.
I thought the fresh air would revive her.

She agreed to this ; and going to her room, returned in a few
minutes. To her natural beauty was added on that fatal day a
morning dress, which more than any other became her ; it was
white, richly trimmed, and fashionably made up by a celebrated
French artiste. Her bonnet was white muslin, trimmed with light
blue ribbons, and a sash of the same colour confined her slender
waist. The little Eugenio ran before us, now at my side, and now
at his mother's. We rambled about for some time, the burthen
of our conversation being the future plans and mode of education
to be adopted for the child : this was a subject on which she
always dwelt with peculiar pleasure.

Tired with our walk, we sat down under a clump of beech-trees
near a grassy ascent, winding among the thick foliage, contrived
by the opulent owner to extend and diversify^the rides in his noble
domain. Eugenio was playing around us, picking the wild
flowers, and running up to me to inquire their names.

The boy was close by_ my side, when, startled at a noise, he
turned round and exclaimed —

** Oh ! look, mamma; look, papa; there are a lady and a
gentleman a-riding." ^

I turned round, and saw Mr. Somerville and Emily on
horseback, within six paces of me ; so still they stood, so mute,
I could have fancied Emily a wax-work figure. They neither
breathed nor moved; even their very horses seemed to be of
bronze, or perhaps, the unfortunate situation in which I found
myself made me think them so. They had come as unex-
pectedly on us as we had discovered them. The soft turf had
received the impression of their horses' feet, and returned no
sound ; and if they snorted, we had either not attended to
them, in the warmth of our conversation, or we had never heard
them.

I rose up hastily — coloured deeply — stammered, and was about

FRANK MILDMAY. 289

to speak. Perhaps it was better that I did not; but I had no
opportunity. Tike apparitions they came, and like apparitions
they vanished. The avenue from whence they had so silently
issued, received them again, and they were gone before Eugenia
was sensible of their presence.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Fare thee well ; and if for ever,

Still for ever fare thee well :
E*en though unforgiving, never

'Gainst thee shall my heart rebel. ByrON.

I WAS SO stunned with this contretemps, that I fell senseless to
the ground ; and it was long before the kind attentions and
assiduity of Eugenia could restore me. When she had suc-
ceeded, my first act was one of base ingratitude, cruelty, and
injustice : I spurned her from me, and upbraided her as the
cause of my unfortunate situation. She only replied with tears.
I quitted her and the child without bidding them adieu, little
thinking I should never see them again. I ran to the inn,

where I had left my horse, mounted, and rode back to

Hall.

Mr. Somerville and his daughter had just arrived, and Emily
was lifted off her horse, and obliged to be carried up to her'
room.

Clara and Talbot came to inquire what had happened. I

could give no account of it ; but earnestly requested to see Emily.
The answer returned was, that Miss Somerville declined seeing
me. In the course of this day, which, in point of mental suffering,
exceeded all I have ever endured in the utmost severity of
professional hardship, an explanation had taken place between
myself, my father, and Mr. Somerville. I had done that by the
impulse of dire necessity, which I ought to have done at first of
my own free will. I was caught at last in my own snare. ** The
trains of the devil are long,'^' said I to myself, " but they are sure
to blow up at last."

The consequence of the explanation was my final dismissal,
and a return of all the presents which my father and myself
had given to Emily. My conduct, though blameable, was not
viewed in that heinous light, either by my father or Mr. Somer-
ville ; and both of them did all that couTd be done to restore
harmony. Clara and Talbot interposed their kind offices, but
with no better success. The maiden pride of the inexorable

290 FRANK MILDMAY.

Emily had been alarmed by a beautiful rival, with a young
family, in the next village. The impression had taken hold of
her spotless mind, and could not be removed, I was false,
fickle, and deceitful, and was given to understand that Miss
Somerville did not intend to quit, her room until she was
assured by her father that I was no longer a guest . in the
house.

Under these painful circumstances, our remaining any longer
at the hall was both useless and irksome — a source of misery
to all.

My father ordered his horses the next morning, and f was
carried back to London, more d^ad than alive. A burning
fever raged in my blood; and the moment I reached my father's
house, I was put to bed, and placed under the care of a physician,
with nurses to watch me night and day. For three weeks I was
in a state of delirium ; and when I regained my senses, it was
only to renew the anguish which had caused my disorder, and I
felt any sentiment except gratitude for my recovery.

My dear Clara had never quitted me during my confinement.
I had taken no medicine but from her hand. I asked her to give
me some account of what had happened. She told me that
Talbot was gone ; that my father had seen Mr. Somerville, who
had informed him that Emily had received a long letter from
Eugenia, narrating every circumstance, exculpating me, and
accusing herself. Emily had wept over it, but still remained firm
in her resolution never to see me more. "And I am afraid, my
dear brother," said Clara, '' that her resolution will not be very
easily altered. You know her character, and you should know
something about our sex : but sailors, they say, go round the
world without going into it. This is the only shadow of an excuse
I can form for you, much as I love and esteem you. You have
hurt Emily in the nicest point, that in which we are all the most
susceptible of injury. You have wounded her pride, which our
sex rarely if ever forgive. At the very moment she supposed you
were devoted to her ; that you were rapt up in the anticipation of
calling her your own, and counting the minutes with impatience
until the happy day arrived ; with all this persuasion on her mind,
she comes upon you, as the traveller out of the wood suddenly
comes across the poisonous snake in his path, and cannot avoid
it. She found you locked hand-in-hand with another, a fort-
night before marriage, and with the fruits of unlawful love in
your arms. What woman could forgive this ? I would not, I
assure you. If Tal — , I mean if any man were to serve me so,
I would tear him ivdtn my heart, even if the dissolution of the
whole frame was to be the certain consequence. I consider it
a kindness to tell you, Frank, that you have no hope. Much

FRANK MILDMAY. 291

as you have and will suffer, she, poor girl, will suffer more ;
and although she will never accept you, she will not let your
place be supplied by another, but sink broken-hearted into her
grave. You, like all other men, will forget this ; but what a
warning ought it to be to you, that sooner or later, guilt will be
productive of misery. This you have fully proved; your
licentious conduct with this woman has ruined her peace for
ever, and Divine vengeance has dashed from your lips the cup
which contained as much happiness as this world could afford.
Nor has the penalty fallen on you alone : the innocent, who
had no share in the crime, are partakers in the punishment ;
we are all as miserable as yourself. But God's will be done,"
continued she, as she kissed my aching forehead, and her tears
fell on my face.

How heavenly is the love of a sister towards a brother!
Clara was now everything to me. Having said thus much to
me on the subject of my fault (and it must be confessed that
she had not been niggardly in the article of words), she never
named the subject again, but sought by every means in her
power to amuse and to comfort me. She listened to my
exculpation ; she admitted that our meeting at Bordeaux was
as unpremeditated as it was unfortunate ; she condemned the
imprudence of our travelling together, and still more the choice
of a residence for Eugenia and her son,

Clara's affectionate attention and kind efforts were unavailing.
I told her so, and that all hopes of happiness for me in this world
were gone for ever,

'* My dear, dear brother," said the affectionate girl, "answer
me one question. Did you ever pray ? "

My answer will pretty well explain to the reader the sort of
religion mine was ; —

'*Why, Clara," said I, " to tell you the truth, though 1 may
not exactly pray, as you call it, yet words are nothing. I feel
grateful to the Almighty for his favours when he bestows them
on me ; and I beheve a grateful heart is all he requires,"

"Then, brother, how do you feel when he afflicts you ? "

" That I have nothing to thank him for," answered I,

"Then, my dear Frank, that is not religion."

" May be so," said I ; *' but I am in no humour to feel other-
wise at present ; so pray drop the subject."

She burst into tears. "This," said she, "is worse than all.
Shall we receive good from the hand of the Lord, and shall we

not receive evil? "

But, seeing that I was in that sullen and untamable state of

mind, she did not venture to renew the subject.

As soon as I was able to quit my room, I had a long con-

292 FRANK MILDMAY.

versation with my father, who, though deeply concerned for my
happiness, said he was quite certain that any attempt at recon-
ciliation would be useless. He therefore proposed two plans, and
I might adopt whichever was the most likely to divert my mind
from my heavy affliction. The first was, to ask his friends at
the Admiralty to give me the command of a sloop of war ; the
second, that I should go upon the Continent, and, having passed
a year there, return to England, when there was no knowing what
change of sentiment time and absence might not produce in my
favour. "For,** said he, "there is one very remarkable differ-
ence in the heart of a man and of a woman. In the first, absence
is very often a cure for love ; in the other, it more frequently
cements and consolidates it. In your absence, Emily will dwell
on the bright parts of your character, and forget its blemishes.
The experiment is worth making, and it is the only way which
offers a chance of success."

I agreed to this. " But/* said I, " as the war with France is
now over, and that with America will be terminated no doubt
very shortly, I have no. wish to put you to the expense, or
myself to the trouble, of fitting out a sloop of war in time of
peace, to be a pleasure-yacht for great lords and ladies, and
myself to be neither more nor less than a maitre d' hotel : and,
after having spent your money and mine, and exhausted all my
civilities, to receive no thanks, and hear that I am esteemed at
Almack*s only * a tolerable sea-brute enough.' A ship, there-
fore," continued I, ** I will not have; and as I think the
Continent holds out some novelty at least, I will, with your
consent, set off."

This point being settled, I told Clara of it. The poor girrs
grief was immoderate. '*My dearest brother, I shall lose you,
and be left alone in the world. Your impetuous and unruly
heart is not in a state to be trusted among the gay and frivolous
French. You will be at sea without your compass — you have
thrown religion overboard — and what is to guide you in the hour
of trial ? ' '

** Fear not, dear Clara," said I; ''my own energies will
always extricate me from the dangers you apprehend."

** Alas ! it is these very energies which I dread," said Clara ;
"but I trust that all will be for the best. Accept," said she,
"of this little book from poor broken-hearted Clara; and, if you
love her, look at it sometimes."

I took the book, and, embracing her affectionately, assured her
that for her sake I would read it.

When I had completed my arrangements for my foreign tour,

I determined to take one last look at Hall before I left

England. I set off unknown to my family, and contrived to

ifRAiSTK MILDMAY. 29J

be near the boundaries of the park by dusk. I desired the
postboy to stop half a mile from the house, and to wait my
return. I cleared the p*\ling; and, avoiding the direct road,
came up to the house. i^^The room usually occupied by the
family was on the ground-floor, and I cautiously approached the
window. Mr. Somerville and Emily were both there. He was
reading aloud ; she sat at a table with a book before her : but
her thoughts, it was evident, were not there ; she had inserted
her taper fingers into the ringlets of her hair, until the palms of
her hand reached her forehead ; then, bending her head towards
the table, she leaned on her elbows, and seemed absorbed in the
most melancholy reflections.

" This, too, is my work,** said I ; ** this fair flower is blighted,
and withering by the contagious touch of my baneful hand!
Good Heaven ! what a wretch am I ! whoever loves me is
rewarded by misery. And what have I gained by this wide
waste and devastation which my wickedness has spread around
me ? Happiness ? No, no — that I have lost for ever. Would
that my loss were all ! would that comfort might visit the soul of
this fair creature and another. But I dare not — I cannot pray ; I
am at enmity with God and man. Yet I will make an effort in
favour of this victim of my baseness. God," continued I,
"if the prayers of an outcast like me can find acceptance, not
for myself, but for her, I ask that peace which the world cannot
give ; shower down Thy blessings upon her, alleviate her sorrows,
and erase from her memory the existence of such a being as
myself. Let not my hateful image hang as a blight upon her
beauteous frame.'*

Emily resumed her book when her father had ceased reading
aloud ; and I saw her wipe a tear from her cheek.

The excitement occasioned by this scene, added io my
previous illness, from the effects of which I had not sufficiently
recovered, caused a faintness ; I sat down under the window, in
hopes that it would paSs off. ' It did not, however ; for I fell,
and lay on the turf in a state of insensibility, which must have
lasted nearly half an hour. I afterwards learned from Clara
that Emily had opened the window, it being a French one, to
walk out and recover herself. By the bright moonlight, she
perceived me lyings on the ground. Her first idea was, that I
had committed suicide ; and, with this impression, she shut the
window, and tottering to the back part of the room, fainted.
Her father ran to her assistance, and she fell into his arras.
She was taken up to her room, and consigned to the care of
her woman, who put her to bed; but she was unable to give
any account of herself, or the cause of her disorder, until the
following day.

294 FRANK MILDMAY,

For my own part, I gradually came to ni}^ senses, and with
difficulty regained my chaise, the driver of which told me I had
been gone about an hour. I drove off to town, wholly unaware
that I had been observed by anyone, much less by Emily. When
she related to her father what she had seen, he either disbelieved
or effected to disbelieve it, and treated it as the effect of a
distempered mind— the phantom of a disordered imagination ;
and she at length began to coincide with him.

I started for the Continent a few days afterwards. Talbot,
who had seen little of Clara since my rejection by Emily, and
subsequent illness, offered my father to accompany me ; and
Clara was anxious that he should go, as she was determined not
to listen to anything he could say during my affliction ; she
could not, she said, be happy while I was miserable, and gave
him no opportunity of conversing with her on the subject of
their union.

We arrived at Paris ; but so abstracted was I in thought, that
I neither saw nor heard anything. Every attention of Talbot was
lost upon me. I continued in my sullen stupor, and forgot to
read the little book which dear Clara had given, and which, for
her sake I had promised to read. I wrote to Eugenia on my
arrival ; and disburthened my mind in some measure, by
acknowledging my shameful treatment of her. I implored her
pardon, and, by return of post received it. Her answer was
affectionate and consoling j but she stated that her spirits, of
course, were low, and her health but indifferent.

For many days my mind remained in a state of listless inanity ;
and Talbot applied, or suffered others to apply, the most
pernicious stimulant that could be thought of to rouse me to
action. Taking a quiet waTk with him, we met some friends of
his ; and, at their request, we agreed to go to the saloons of the
Palais Royal, "^his was a desperate remedy, and by a miracle
only was I saved from utter and irretrievable ruin. How many of
my countrymen have fallen victims to the arts practised in that
horrible school of vice, I dare not say ! Happy should I be to
think that the infection had not reached our own shores, and
found patrons among the great men of the land. They have,
however, both felt the consequences and been forewarned of the
danger. T?iey have no excuse ; mine was, that I had been
excluded from the society of those I loved. Always living by
excitement, was it surprising that, when a gaming-table dis-
played its hoards before me, I should have fallen at once into the
snare ?

For the first time since my illness, I became inteissted, and
laid down my money on those abhorred tables. My success was
variable ; but I congratulated myself that at length I had found

FRANK MILDMAY. 295

a stimulus, and I anxiously awaited the return of the hour when
the doors would again be opened, and the rooms lighted up for
the reception of company. I won considerably ; and night after
night found me at the table — for avarice is insatiable ; but my
good luck left me ; and then the same motive induced me to
return, with the hope of winning back what I had lost.

Still fortune was unpropitious, and I lost very considerable
sums. I became desperate, and drew largely on my father.
He wrote to beg that I would be more mod/^rate ; as twice his
income would not support such an expenditure. He wrote also
to Talbot, who informed him in what manner the money had
been expended j and that he had in vain endeavoured to divert
me from the fatal practice. Finding that no limits were likely to
be put to my folly, my father very properly refused to honour any
more of my bills.

Maddened with this intimation, for which I secretly blamed
Talbot, I drew upon Eugenia's banker, bill after bill, until the
sum amounted to more than what my father had paid. At length
a letter came from Eugenia : it was but a few lines.

"1 know too well, my dearest friend," said she, "what
becomes of the money you have received. If you want it ail, I
cannot refuse you ; but remember that you are throwing away
the property of your child.'*

This letter did more to rouse me to a sense of my infamous
conduct than the advice of Talbot, or the admonitions of my
father. I felt I was acting like a scoundrel, and I resolved to
leave off gaming. '* One night more," said I, "and then, if I
lose, there is an end of it ; I go no more." Talbot attended
me : he felt he was in some measure the cause of my being first
initiated in this pernicious amusement: and he watched my
motions with unceasing anxiety.

The game was rouge-et-noir, I threw a large sum on the red,
I won, left the stake, doubled, and won again. The heap of
gold had increased to a large size, and still remained to abide
the chance of the card. Again, again, and again, it wa^s doubled.
Seven times had the red card been turned up, and seven times
had my gold been doubled. Talbot, who stood behind me,
implored and begged me earnestly to leave off.

"What may be the consequence of one card against you?
Trust no more to fortune ; be content with what you have got."

"That," muttered I, ** Talbot, is of no use; I must have
more."

Again came up the red, to the astonishment of • the by-
standers ; and to their still greater astonishment, my gold,
which had increased to an enormous heap, still remained on the

296 FRANK MILDMAY.

table. Talbot again intreated me not to tempt fortune

foolishly.

"Folly," said I, ** Talbot, has already been committed; and
one more card will do the business. It must be done."

The bankers knowing, after eight red cards had been turned
up, how great the chance was of regaining all their losses by a
double or quits, agreed to the ninth card. Talbot trembled like
a leaf. The card was turned; it came up red, and the bank
was broken. ^

Here all play ceased for the night. The losers, of course,
vented their feelings in the most blasphemous execrations ;
while I quietly collected all my winnings, and returned home in
Q-fiacrCy with Talbot, who took the precaution of requesting the
attendance of two gendarmes. These were each rewarded with
a Napoleon.

"Now, Talbot/' said I, ** I solemnly swear, as I hope to go
to heaven, never to play again." And this promise I have most
religiously kept. My good fortune was one instance in ten
thousand, among those who have been ruined in that house.
The next morning I refunded all I had drawn upon Eugenia, and
all my father had supplied me with, and there still remained a
considerable residue.

Determined not to continue in this vortex of dissipation any
longer, where my resolution was hourly put to the test, Talbot
and myself agreed to travel down to Brest, an arsenal we were
both desirous of seeing.

' CHAPTER XXVIII.

Pal. Thou art a traitor, Arcite, and a fellow
False as thy title to her. Friendship, blood,
And all the ties between us, I disclaim.

Arc. You are mad.

Pal. I must be,
Till thou art worthy, Arcite; it concerns met
And, in this madness, if I hazard thee
And take thy life, I deal but truly.

Arc. Fie, sir ! Beaumont and Fletcher.

We quitted Paris two days after ; and a journey of three days,
through an uninteresting country, brought us to the little town
of Granville, on the sea-coast, in the Channel, We remained
at this delightful place some days ; and our letters being regu-

FRANK MILDMAY. 29?

larly forwarded to us, brought us intelligence from England,
My father expressed his astonishment at my returning the
money drawn for ; and trusted, unaccountable as the restitution
appeared, that I was not offended, and would consider him my
banker, as far as his expenditure and style of living would permit
him to advance.

Eugenia, in her letters, reproached herself for having written
to me ; and concluded that I had drawn so largely upon her
merely to prove her sincerity. She assured me, that her caution
to me was not dictated by selfishness, but from a consideration
for the child.

Clara's letter informed me that every attempt, even to ser-
vility, had been made in order to induce Emily to alter her
determination, but without success ; and that a coolness had in
consequence taken place, and almost an entire interruption of
the intimacy between the families. She also added, " I am
afraid that your friend is even worse than yourself ; for I under-
stand that he is engaged to another woman, and has been so
for years. Now, as I must consider that the great tie of your
intimacy is his supposed partiality to me, and as I conceive
you are under a false impression with respect to his sincerity, I
think it my duty to make you acquainted with all I know. It is
impossible that you can esteem the man who has trifled with the
feelings of your sister; and I sincerely hope that the next letter
from you will inform me of your having separated.'*

How little did poor Clara think, when she wrote this letter, of
the consequences likely to arise from it ; that in thus venting
her complaints, she was exploding a mine which was to produce
results ten times more fatal than anything which had yet befallen
us !

I was at this period in a misanthropic state of mind, hating
myself and everyone about me. The company of Talbot had
long been endured, not enjoyed ; and I would gladly have
availed myself of any plausible excuse for a separation. True,
he was my friend, had proved himself so ; but I was in no
humour to acknowledge favours. Discarded by her I loved, I
discarded every one else. Talbot was a log and a chain, and
I thought I could not get rid of him too soon. This letter,
therefore, gave me a fair opportunity of venting my spleen ; but
instead of a cool dismissal, as Clara requested, I determined to
dismiss him or myself to another world.

Having finished reading my letter, I laid it down, and made
no observation. Talbot, with his usual kind and benevolent
countenance, inquired if I had any news? *'Yes," I replied,
'* I have discovered that you are a villain ! "

"That is news indeed," said he; "and strange that the

298 FRANK MILDMAY.

brother of Clara should have been the messenger to convey it ;
but this is language, Frank, which not even your unhappv state
of mind can excuse. Retract your words."

"I repeat them," said I. "You have trifled with my sister,
and are a villain." (Had this been true, it was no more than I
had done myself ; but my victims had no brothers to avenge
their wrongs.)

"The name of Clara," replied Talbot, "calms me: believe
me, Frank, you are mistaken. I love her, and have always had
the most honourable intentions towards her."

" Yes," said I, with a sarcastic sneer, " at the time that you
have been engaged to another woman for years. To one or the
other you must acknowledge yourself a scoundrel : I do not,
therefore, withdraw my appellation, but repeat it ; and as you
seem so very patient under injuries, I inform you that you must
either meet me on the sands this evening, or consent to be
stigmatized with another name still more revolting to the feel-
ings of an Englishman."

" Enough, enough, Frank," said Talbot, with a face in which
conscious innocence and manly fortitude were blended. "You
have said more than I ever expected to have heard from you,
and more than the customs of the world will allow me to put up
with. What must be, must ; but I still tell you, Frank, that you
are wrong, that you are fatally deluded, and that you will bitterly
repent the follies of this day. It is yourself with whom you are
angry, and you are venting that anger on your friend."

The words were thrown away on me. I felt a secret malig-
nant pleasure, which blindly impelled me forward, with the
certainty of glutting my revenge, by either destroying or being
destroyed. My sole preparation for this dreadful conflict was
my pistols; no other did I. think of, not even the chances of
sending my friend and fellow-mortal, or going myself, into the
presence of an Almighty Judge. My mind was absorbed in
secret pleasure at the idea of that acute misery which Emily
would suffer if I fell by the hand of Talbot.

I repaired to the rendezvous, where I found Talbot waiting.
He came up to me, and again said :

" Frank, I call Heaven to witness that you are mistaken.
You are wrong. Suspend your opinion, at least, if you will not
recall your words."

Totally possessed by the devil, and not to be convinced till
too late, I replied to his peaceful overture by the rn'' t insulting
irony : " You were not afraid to fire at a poor boy ia the water,"
said I, " though you do not like to stand a shot in return. Come,

come, take your ground, be a man, stand up, don't be

afraid,"

FRANK MILDMAY. 299

"For myself," said Talbot, with a firm and placid resigna-
tion of countenance, '* I have no fears ; but for you, Frank, I
have great cause of alarm:'* so saying-, he snatched up the
loaded pistol, which I threw down to him.

We had no seconds; nor was there any person m sight. It
was a bright moonlight, and we walked to the water's edge,
where the reflux of the tide had left the sand firm to the tread.
Here we stood back to back. The usual distance was fourteen
paces. Talbot refused to measure his, but stood perfectly still.
I walked ten paces, and turned round, " Ready,*' said I, in a
low voice.

We both raised our arms ; but Talbot, instantly dropping the
muzzle of his pistol, said, ** I cannot fire at the brother of
Clara!"

" I can at her insulter," answered I; and, taking deliberate
aim, fired, and my ball entered his side. He bounded, gave a
half-turn round in the air, and fell on his face to the ground.

How sudden are the transitions of the human mind 1 how close
does remorse follow the gratification of revenge ! The veil dropped
from my eyes ; I saw in an instant the false medium, the deceitful
vision, which had thus allured me into what the world calls "an
affair of honour." "Honour," good Heaven ! had made me a
murderer, and the voice of my brother's blood cried out for
vengeance.

The manly and athletic form, which one minute before excited
my most malignant hatred, when now prostrate and speechless
became an object of frantic affection. I ran to Talbot, and when
it was too late perceived the mischief I had done. Murder, cruelty,
injustice, and, above all, the most detestable ingratitude, flushed
at once into my over-crowded imagination. I turned the body
round, and tried to discover if there were any signs of life. A
small stream of blood ran fi-om his side, and, about two feet from
him, was lost in the absorbing sand; while from the violence of
his fall the sand had filled his mouth and nostrils. I cleaned them
out ; and stanching the wound with my handkerchief, for the blood
flowed copiously at every respiration, I sat on the sea-shore by his
side, supporting him in my arms. I only exclaimed, " Would
to God the shark, the poison, the sword of the enemy, or the
precipice of Trinidad, had destroyed me before this fatal
hour ! "

Talbot opened his languid eyes, and fixed them on me with
a glassy stare ; but he did not speak. Suddenly recollection
seemed for a moment to return — he recognized me, and, O
God ! his look of kindness pierced my heart. He made several
efforts to speak, and at last said, in broken accents, and at long

and painful intervals.

300 FRANK MILDMAY.

" Look at letter — writing-desk— read all — explain — God bless
His head fell back, and he was dead !

Oh, how I envied him ! had he been ten thousand times more
guilty than I had ever supposed him, it would have given no com-
fort to my mind. I had murdered him, and too late, I acknowledged
his innocence. I know not why, and can scarcely tell how I did
it, but I took off my neckcloth, and bound it tightly round his waist,
over the wound. The blood ceased to flow. I left the body, and
returned to our lodging, in a state of mental prostration and
misery proportioned to the heat and excitement with which I had
quitted it.

My first object was to read the letters which my poor friend
had referred to. On my arrival, both our servants were up.
My hands and clothes were dyed with blood, and they looked
at me with astonishment. I ran hastily upstairs to avoid them,
and took the writing-desk, the key of which I knew hung to his
watch-chain. Seizing the poker, I split it open, and took out
the packet he mentioned. At this moment his servant entered
the room.

*' Et mon vtaitre^ monsieur, oil est-il ? "

'* I have murdered him," said I, "and you will find him on
the sands, near the signal-post ; and," continued I, **I am now
robbing him ! "

My appearance and actions seemed to prove the truth of my
assertion. The man flew out of the room ; but I was regardless
of everything, and even wonder why I should have given my
attention to the letters at all, especially as I had now convinced
myself of Talbot's innocence. The packet, however, I did read ;
and it consisted of a series of letters between Talbot and his
father, who had engaged him to a young lady of rank and for-
tune, without consulting him — un mariage de convenance —
which Talbot had resisted in consequence of his attachment to
Clara.

I have already stated that Talbot was of high aristocratic
family ; and this marriage being wished for by the parents of both
parties, they had given it out as being finally settled to take place
on the return of Talbot to Eno;-land. In the last letter, the father
had yielded to his entreaties in favour of Clara ; only requesting
him not to be precipitate in offering himself, as he wished to find
some excuse for breaking off the match ; and, above all, he fatally
enjoined profound secrecy till the affair was arranged. Here, then,
was everything explained. Indeed, before I had read these letters,
my mind did not need this damning proof of his innocence and my
guilt.

Just as I had finished reading, the gendarmes entered my
room, and, with the ofi&cers of justice, led me away to prison. I

FRANK MILDMAY. 301

F

talked mechanicallv . I was conducted to a small building in the
centre of a square.^- This vra.s a. cackot vfith an iron-grated window
on each of its four sides, but without glass. There was no bench,
or table, or anything but the bare walls and the pavement. The
wind blew sharply through. I had not even a great-coat ; but I
felt no cold or personal inconvenience, for my mind was too much
occupied by superior misery. The door closed on me, and I heard
the bolts turn. There was not an observation made on either
part, and I was left to myself.

" Well," said I, " fate has now done its worst, and fortune will
be weary at last of tormenting a wretch that she can sink no lower I

Death has no terrors for me ; and, after death ! " But, even

in my misery, I scarcely gave a thought to what might happen In
futurity. It might occasionally have obtruded itself on my mind,
but was quickly dismissed : I had adopted the atheistical creed
of the French Revolution.

"Death is eternal sleep, and the sooner I go to sleep the
better! ** thought I. The only point that pressed itself on my
mind was, the dread of a public execution. This my pride revolted
at ; for pride had again returned, and resumed its empire, even in
my cachot.

As the day dawned, the noise of the carts and country people
coming into the square with their produce, roused me from my
reverie, for I had not slept. The prison was surrounded by all
ages and all classes, to get a sight of the English murderer;
and the light and the air were stopped out of each window by
human faces pressed against the bars. I was gazed at as a wild
beast; and the children, as they sat on their mother's shoulders
to look at me, received a moral lesson and a warning at my
expense.

As a tiger in his cage wearies the eye by incessantly walking
and turning, so I paced my den ; and if I could have reached
one of the impertinent gazers, through the slanting aperture
and three-foot wall, I should have throttled him. *' All these
people," said I, *' and thousands more, will witness my last
moments on the scaffold !

?

Stung with this dreadful thought, with rage I searchea m my
pockets for my penknife, to relieve me at once from my tor-
ments and apprehensions ; and had I found it, I should cer-
tainly have committed suicide. Fortunately I had left it at
home, or it would have been buried, in that moment of frenzy,
in the caroHd artery ; for, as well as others, I knew exactly where
to find it.

The crowd at length began to disperse ; the windows were left,
except now and then an urchin of a boy showed his ragged head
at the grille. Worn out with bodily fatigue and mental suffering,

T

362 FRANK MILDMAV.

I was going to throw myself along upon the cold stones, when 1
saw the face of my own servant, who advanced in haste to the
window of the prison, exclaiming with joy : ~«

'* Courage, mon cher maitre; Monsieur Talbot n'esi fas
mortr'

*' Not dead I " exclaimed I, failing unconsciously on my knees,
and lifting up my clasped hands and haggard eyes to heaven ;
" not dead ! God be praised. At least there is a hope that I may
escape the crime of murder."

*' Before I could say more, the mayor entered my cachot with
the officers of the police, and informed me that a frocbs-verbal
had been held ; that my friend had been able to give the clearest
answers to all their questions; and that it appeared from the
evidence of Monsieur Talbot himself, that it was an affaire
d^honneur, fairly decided ; that the brace of pistols found in the
water had confirmed his assertions : " and therefore, monsieur,*^
continued the mayor, *' whether your friend lives or dies tout a
itifait en rhgle^ etvous ites lihrey

So saying, he bowed very politely, and pointed to the door ; nor
was I so ceremonious as to beg him to show me the way ; out I
ran, and flew to the apartment of Talbot, who had sent my servant
to say how much he wished to see me. Z found him in bed. As
I entered, he held out his hand to me, which I covered with kisses
and bathed with my tears.

*' O Talbot ! " said I, ** can you forgave me ? "

He squeezed my hand, and from exhaustion let it fall. The
surgeon led me out of the room, saying, "All depends on his
being kept quiet." I then learned that he owed his life to two
circumstances — the first was, my having bound my neckcloth
round the wound ; the other was, that the duel took place below
high-water mark. The tide was rising when I left him ; and the
cold waves as they rippled against his body, had restored him to
animation. ^In this state he was found by his servant, not many
minutes before the flood would have covered him, for he had not
strength to move out of its way. I ascertained also that the ball
had entered his liver, and had passed out without doing further
inj ury .

I now dressed myself, and devoutly thanking God for His
miraculous preservation, took my seat by the bedside of the
patient, which I never quitted until his perfect recovery. When
this was happily completed, I wrote to my father and to Ciara,
giving both an exact account of the whole transaction. Clara,
undeceived, made no scruple of acknowledging her attachment.
Talbot was requested by his father to return home. I accom-
panied him as far as Calais, where we parted ; and in a few

FRANK MILDMAV. joj

Weeks after, I had the pleasure of hearing that my sister had
become his wife.

Left to myself, x returned slowly, and much depressed in
spirits, to Quillacq*s ; where, ordering post horses, I threw my-
self into my travelling-carriage, into which my valet had by my
orders previously placed my luggage.

*' Where are you going to, tnonsieur ? '* said the valet.

^^ Au diable r^ said I.

^^ Mais les ;passe;ports ?^* said the man.

I felt that I had sufficient passports for the journey I had pro-
posed ; but correcting myself, said, "to Switzerland.'' It was
the first name that came into my head ; and I had heard that it
was the resort of all my countrymen whose heads, hearts, lungs,
or finances were disordered. But during my journey, I neither
saw nor heard anything, consequently took no notes, which my
readers will rejoice at, because they will be spared that inex-
haustible supply to the trunk-makers, "A tour through France
and Switzerland." I travelled night and day; for I could not
sleep. The allegory of lo and the gad-fly in the heathen my-
thology, must surely hate been intended to represent the being
who, like myself, was tormented by a bad conscience. Like lo I
flew ; and like her, I was pursued by the eternal gad-fly, where-
ever I went ; and in vain did I try to escape it.

I passed the Great St. Bernard on foot. This interested me as
I approached it. The mountains below, and the Alps above, were
one mass of snow and ice, and I looked down with contempt on
the world below me. I took up my abode in the convent for some
time ; my ample contributions to the box in the chapel made me
a welcome sojourner beyond the limited period allowed to
travellers, and I felt less and less inclined to quit the scene. My
amusement was climbing the most frightful precipices, followed
by the large and faithful dogs, and viewing Nature in her wildest
and most sublime attire. At other times, when bodily fatigue re-
quired rest, I sat down, with morbid melancholy, in the receptacle
for the bodies of those unfortunate persons who had perished in the
snow. There would I remain for hours, musing on their fate : the
purity of the air admitted neither putrefaction nor even decay, for
a very considerable time ; and they lay, to all appearance, as if
the breath had even then only quitted them, although, on touching
those who had been there for years, they would often crumble
into dust.

Roman Catholics, we know, are ever anxious to make converts.
The prior asked me whether I was not a Protestant ? I replied,
that "I was of no religion ; which answer was, I believe, much
nearer to the truth than any other I could have given. The reply
was far more favourable to the hopes of the monks than if I had

jo4 FRANK MILDMAV.

said I was a heretic or a Moslem. They thought me much nlore
likely to become a convert to their religion, since I had none of
my own to oppose it. The monks immediately arranged them-
selves in theological order, with the whole armour of faith, and
laid constant siege to me on all sides ; but I was not inclined to
any religion, much less to the one I despised. I would sooner
have turned Turk.

I received a letter from poor unhappy Eugenia — it was the
last she ever wrote. It was to acquaint me with the death of
her lovely boy, who, having wandered from the house, had
fallen into a trout-stream, where he was found drowned some
hours after. In her distracted state of mind she could add no
more than her blessing, and a firm conviction that we should
never meet again in this world. Her lettef concluded inco-
herently; and although I should have said, in the morning,
that my mind had not room for another sorrow, yet the loss of this
sweet boy, and the state of his wretched mother, found a place
in my bosom for a time, to the total exclusion of all other cares.
She requested me to hasten to her without delay, if I wished to
see her before she died.

I took leave of the monks, and travelled with all speed to
Paris, and thence to Calais. Reaching Quillacq*s hotel, I
received a shock which, although I apprehended danger, I was
not prepared for. It was a letter from Eugenia's agent, an-
nouncing her death. She had been seized with a brain fever,
and had died at a small town in Norfolk, where she had re-
moved soon after our last unhappy interview. The agent con-
cluded his letter by saying that Eugenia had bequeathed me
all her property, which was very considerable, and that her last
rational words to him were that I was her first and her only
love.

I was now callous to suffering. My feelings had been racked
to insensibility. Like a ship in a hurricane, the last tremendous
sea had swept everything from the decks — the vessel was a wreck,
driving as the storm might chance to direct. In the midst of this
devastation, I looked around me, and the only object which pre-
sented itself to my mind, as worthy of contemplation, was the
tomb which contained the remains of Eugenia and her child. To
that I resolved to repair.

FRANK MILDMAY, 305

CHAPTER XXIX.

"With sorrow and repentance true,
Father, I trembling come to you.

Song.

I ARRIVED at the town where poor Eugenia had breathed her
last, and near to which was the cemetery in which her remains
were deposited. I went to the inn, whence, after having dis-
missed my post-boy and ordered my luggage to he taken up to
my room, I proceeded on foot towards the spot. I was in-
formed that the path lay between the church and the bfthop's
palace. I soon reached it : and inquiring for the sexton, who
lived in a cottage hard by, requested he would lead me to
a certain grave, which I indicated by tokens too easily known.

" Oh, you mean the sweet young lady as died of grief for the
loss of her little boy. There it is,'* continued he, pointing with
his finger; ** the white peacock is now sitting on the head-stone
of the grave, and the little boy is buried beside it."

I approached, while the humble sexton kindly withdrew, that I
might, without witnesses, indulge that grief which he saw was the
burthen of my aching heart. The bird remained, but without
dressing its plumage, without the usual air of surprise and
vigilance evinced by domestic fowls when disturbed in their haunts.
This poor creature was moulting ; its feathers were rumpled and
disordered ; its tail ragged. There was no beauty in the bird,
which was probably only kept as a variety of the species ; and it
appeared to me as if it had been placed there as a lesson to my-
self. >In its modest attire, in its melancholy and pensive attitude,
it seemed, with its gaudy plumage, to have dismissed the world
and its vanities, while in mournful silence it surveyed the crowded
mementos of eternity. ^

**This is my office, not thine," said I, apostrophising the bird,
which, alarmed at my near approach, quitted its position, and dis-
appeared among the surrounding tombs. I sat down, and fixing
my eyes on the name which the tablet bore, ran over, in a hurried
manner, all that part of my career which had been more
immediately connected with the history of Eugenia. I remembered
her many virtues ; her self-devotion for my honour and happiness ;
her concealing herself from me, that I might not blast my
prospects in life by continuing an intimacy which she saw would
end in my ruin ; her firmness of character, her disinterested
generosity, and the refinement of attachment which made her
prefer misery and solitude to her own gratification in the society of
the man she loved. She had, alas ! but one fault, and that fault
^as, loving me. I could not drive firom my thoughts, that it wag

3o6 FRANK MILDMAY.

through my unfortunate and illicit connection with her that I had
lost all that made life dear to me.

At this moment (and not once since the morning I awoke from
it) my singular dream recurred to my mind. The thoughts which
never had once, during my eventful voyage from the Bahamas to
the Cape, and thence to England, presented themselves in my
waking hours, must certainly have possessed my brain during
sleep. Why else should it never have occurred to my rational
mind that the connection with Eugenia would certainly endanger
that intended with Emily ? It was Eugenia that placed Emily in
mourning, out of my reach, and, as it were, on the top of the
Nine-pin Rock.

Here, then, my dream was explained ; and I now felt all the
horrors of that reality which I thought at the time was no more
than the effect of a disordered imagination. Yet I could not
blame Eugenia; the poor girl had fallen a victim to that de-
plorable and sensual education which I had received in the cock-
pit of a man-of-war. I — I alone was the culprit. She was friend-
less, and without a parent to guide her youthful step ; she fell a
victim to my ungoverned passions. Maddened with anguish of
head and heart, I threw myself violently on the grave ; I beat my
miserable head against the tombstones ; I called with frantic
exclamation on the name of Eugenia ; and at length sank on
the turf, between the two graves, in a state of stupor and
exhaustion, from which a copious flood of tears in some measure
relieved me.

I was aroused by the sound of wheels and the trampling of
horses ; and looking up, I perceived the bishop's carriage and
four, with outriders, pass by. The livery and colour of the carriage
were certainly what is denominated quiet; but there was an
appearance of state which indicated that the owner had not
entirely " renounced the pomps and vanities of this wicked world,*'
and my spleen was excited.

"Ah, sweep along,** I bitterly muttered, ** worthy type indeed
of the apostles ! I like the pride that apes humility. Is that
the way you teach your flock to * leave all and follow me ' ? ** I
started up suddenly, saying to myself, ** I will seek this man in
his palace, and see whether I shall be kindly received and con-
soled, or be repulsed by a menial.**

The thought was sudden, and, being conceived almost in a
state of frenzy, was instantly executed. ''Let me try,*' said I,
"whether a bishop can administer to the mind diseased as well,
as a country curate.**

I moved on with rapidity to the palace, more in a fit of
desperation than with a view of seeking peace of mind. I rang
loudly and vehemently at the gate, and asked whether the bishop

FRANK MILDMAY. 3o)r

was at home. An elderly domestic, who seemed to regard me
with astonishment, answered me in the affirmative, and desired
me to walk «nto an ante-room, while he announced me to his
master. ^

I now began to recall my scattered senses, which had been
wandering, and to perceive the absurdity of my conduct ; I was
therefore about to quit the palace, into which I had so rudely
intruded, without waiting for my audience, when the servant
opened the door and requested me to follow him.

By what inscrutable means are the designs of Providence
brought about ! While I thought I was blindly following the
impulse of passion, I was, in fact, guided by unerring Wisdom-
A prey to desperate and irritated feelings, I anticipated, with
malignant pleasure, that 1 should detect hypocrisy — that one
who ought to set an example, should be weighed by me, and.
found wanting ; instead of which I stumbled on my own salva-
tion ! Where I expected to meet with pride and scorn, I met
humility and kindness ; when I had looked around on the great
circle bounded by the visible horizon, and could perceive no
friendly port into which I might lay my shattered vessel, behold
it was close at hand !

I followed the servant with a kind of stupid indifference, and
was ushered into the presence of a benevolent-looking old man,
between sixty and seventy years of age. His whole external
appearance, as well as his white hairs, commanded respect
amounting almost to admiration. I was not prepared to speak,
which he perceived, and kindly began :

" As you are a stranger to me, I fear, from your care-worn
countenance, that it is no common occurrence which has
brought you here. Sit down ; you seem in distress ; and if it is
in my power to afford you relief, you may be assured that I will

do so."

There was in his manner and address an affectionate kindness
which overcame me. I could neither speak nor look at him ;
but, laying my head on the table, and hiding my face with my
hands, t wept bitterly. The good bishop allowed me reasonable
time to recover myself, and, with extreme good breeding, mildly
requested that, if it were possible, I would confide to him the
cause of my affliction.

" Be not afraid or ashamed, my goodlad," said he, "to tell me
your sorrows. If we have temporal blessings, we do not forget
that we are but the almoners of the Lord : we endeavour to follow
his example ; but, if I may judge from appearance, it is not
pecuniary aid you have come to solicit."

*'No, no,** replied I; ** it is not money that I want: '* but,
choked with excess of feeling, I could say no more, i

308 FRANK MILDMAY.

" This is indeefd a more important case than one of mere
bodily want," said the good man. '* That we might very soon
supply ; but there seems something in your condition which re-
quires our more serious attention. I thank the Almighty for
selecting me to this service ; and, with His blessing, we shall not
fail of success.*'

Then, going to the door, he called to a young lady, who I
afterwards discovered was his daughter ; and holding the door
ajar as he spoke, that I might not be seen in my distress, said,
'* Caroline, my dear, write to the duke, and beg him to excuse
my dining with him to-day. Tell him that I am kept at home
by business of importance ; and g^ve orders that I be not inter-
rupted on any account.'*

He then turned the key in the door, and, drawing a chair close
to mine, begged me, in the most persuasive manner, to tell him
everything without reserve, in order that he might apply such a
remedy as the case seemed to demand.

I first asked for a glass of wine, which was instantly brought ;
he received it at the door, and gave it to me with his own hand.

Having drunk it, I commenced the history of my life in a brief
outline, and ultimately told him all ; nearly as much in detail as
I have related to the reader. He listened to me with an intense
and painful interest, questioning me as to my feelings on many
important occasions ; and having at length obtained from me an
honest and candid confession, without any extenuation —

"My young friend," said he, '*your life has been one of
peculiar temptation and excess — much to deplore, much to
blame, and much to repent of; but the state of feeling which
induced you to come to me is a proof that you now only require
that which, with God*s help, I trust I shall be able to supply.
It is now late, and we both of us require some refreshment. I
will order in dinner, and you must send to the inn for your
portmanteau."

Perceiving that I was about to answer — " I must take no
denial," resumed he. " You have placed yourself under my
care, as your physician, and you must follow my prescriptions.
My duty is as much more important, compared to the doctor's,
as the soul is to the body."

Dinner being served, he dismissed the servants as soon as
possible, and then asked me many questions relative to my
family, all of which I answered without reserve. He once
mentioned Miss Somerville ; but I was so overcome, that he
perceived my distress, and filling me a glass of wine, changed
the subject.

If I thought that any words of mine could do justice to the
persuasive discourses of this worthy bishop, I would have bene-

FRANK MILDMAY. 309

fited the world by making them public ; but I could not do this ;
and I trust that none of my readers will have so much need of
them as I had myself. I shall therefore briefly state, that I
remained in the palace ten days, in the most perfect seclusion.

Every morning the good bishop dedicated two or three hours
to my instruction and improvement ; he put into my hands one or
two books at a time, with marks in them, indicating the pages
which I ought to consult. He would have introduced me to
his family ; but this I begged for a time to decline, being too
much depressed and out of spirits ; and he indulged me in my
request of being allowed to continue in the apartments allotted
to me.

On the seventh morning, he came to me and after a short
conversationf, informed me that business would require his absence
for two or three days, and that he would give me a task to employ
me during the short time he should be gone. He then put into
my hand a work on the Sacrament. "This,** said he, "I am
sure you will read with particular attention, so that on my return
I may invite you to the feast.*' I trembled as I opened the book. .
" Fear not, Mr. Mildmay/' said he ; "I tell you, from what I
see of your symptoms, that the cure will be complete.**

Havmg said this, he gave me his blessing, and departed.
He returned exactly at the end of three days, and after a short
examination, said he would allow me to receive the Sacrament,
and that the holy ceremony should take place in his own room
privately, well knowing how much affected I should be. He
brought in the bread and wine ; and having consecrated and
partaken of them himself, agreeably to the forms prescribed, he
made a short extempore prayer in my behalf.

When he had done this, he advanced towards me, and pre-
sented the bread. My blood curdled as I took it in my mouth ;
and when I had tasted the wine, the tjrpe of the blood of that
Saviour whose wounds I had so often opened afresh in my guilty
career, and yet upon the merits of which I now relied for pardon,
I felt a combined sensation of love, gratitude, and joy — a light-
ness and buoyancy of spirits, as if I could have left the earth
below me, disburthened of a weight that had, till then, crushed
me to the ground. I felt that I had faith — that I was a new man
■ — and that my sins were forgiven ; and, dropping my head on the
side of the table, I remained some minutes in grateful and fervent

prayer.

The service being ended, I hastened to express my acknow-
ledgments to my venerable friend.

" I am but the humble instrument, my dear young friend,** said
the bishop ; " let us both give thanks to the Almighty Searcher

of hearts. Let us hope that the work is perfect — for then you will

310 FRANK MILDMAY.

be the occasion of 'joy in heaven.* And now/' continued he,
" let me ask you one question. Do you feel in that state of mind
that you could bear any affliction which might befall you, without
repining*?'*

"I trust, sir," answered I, "that I could bear it, not only
cheerfully, but thankfully ; and I now acknowledge that it is
good for me that 1 have been in trouble."

" Then all is right," said he ; " and with such feelings I may
venture to give you this letter, which I promised the writer to
deliver with my own hand."

As soon as my eye caught the superscription, '* Gracious
Heaven ! " exclaimed I, ** it is from my Emily."

" Ev^ so," said the bishop.

I tore it open. It contained only six lines, which were as
follows :

"Our mutual kind friend the bishop has proved to me how
proud and how foolish I have been. Forgive me, dear Frank,
'for I too have suffered much ; and come as soon as possible to
your ever affectionate *' Emily."

This, then, was the object of the venerable bishop's absence.
Bending beneath age and infirmity, he had undertaken a journey
of three hundred miles, in order to ensure the temporal as well
as eternal welfare of a perfect stranger — to effect a reconciliation,
without which he saw that my worldly happiness was incomplete.
I was afterwards informed, that notwithstanding the weight
of his character and holy office, he had found Emily more
decided in her rejection than he had anticipated ; and it was
not until he had sharply rebuked her for her pride and un-
forgiving temper, that she could be brought to listen with
patience to his arguments. But having at length convinced
her that the tenure of her own hopes depended on the forgive-
ness of others, she relented, acknowledged the truth of his
remarks, and her undiminished affection for me. ^While she
made this confession, she was in the same position before the
bishop that I was when I received her letter — on my knees,
and in tears.

He gave me his hand, raised me up, "And now, my young
friend," said he, "let me give you one caution. I hope and I
trust that your repentance is sincere. If it be not, the guilt must
rest on your head ; but I trust in God that all is as it should
be. I will not, therefore, detain you any longer ; you must
be impatient to be gone. Refr^hment is prepared for you :
my horses will take you the first stage. Have you funds

FRANK MILDMAY. 3"

suflfcient to carry you through ? for it is a long journey, as my
old bones can testify.*'

I assured him that I was sufficiently provided ; and, expressing
my thanks for his kindness, wished that it was in my power to
prove my gratitude. *' Put me to the test, my lord," said I, "if
you possibly can."

'*Well, then," replied he, "I will. When the day for your
union with Miss Somerville is fixed, allow me to have the
pleasure of joining your hands, should it please God to spare me
so long. I have removed the disease ; but I must trust to
somebody else to watch and prevent a relapse. And believe me,
my dear friend, however well inclined a man may be to keep in
the straight path, he gains no little support from the guidance
and example of a lovely and virtuous woman."

I promised readily all he asked ; and, having finished a slight
lunch, again shook hands with the worthy prelate, jumped into my
carriage, and drove off. I travelled all night ; and the next day
was in the society of those I loved, and who had ever loved me, in
spite of all my perverseness and folly.

A few weeks after, Emily and I were united by the venerable
bishop, who, with much emotion, gave us his benediction ; and,
as the prayer of the righteous man availeth much, I felt that it
was recorded in our favour in heaven. Mr. Somerville gave the
bride away. My father, with Talbot and Clara, were present;
and the whole of us, after all my strange vicissitudes, were
deeply affected at this reconciliation and union.

THE END.

PHi}ted I^ R. B. EiNO, Curtain Road, London^ B,V.

THE HOME INSTRUCTOR LIBRARY.

Sklrler

Wuthering Heii^to and

Affnes Orey
Tenant of Wlldfril H»U
Oliyer Twiat
Kicholas Mokleby
Christmas Tales
Dombey and Sen
Martin Chuzzlewit
Barnaby Rudgo
The Old Cariosity Shop
The Pickwick Papers
David Copperflsld
Sketches by " JBoi"

Bleak House
Christopher Tadpole
The Adventures of Kr.

Ledbury
The Scarlet Letter
House of the Seven

Gables
Twice Told Tales
Mosses from «u Old

Manse
The Snow Imago
Ingoldflby Legends
Valentine Vw
Sylvester Sound
Jack Hinton
Harry Lorreaner
Charles O'Maney
Tom Burke of Oars
Handy Andy
Irish LegenilB & Stories
Aory O'More
^Macaul»'s Lays Eome
Vanity Fair
Pendennls
Barry Lyndon
A ShabK^Oenteel Story,

etc.
Esmond
Book of Snobs
Mary Barton
The Moorland Cottage
Last Days of Pompeii
-Pelham

Ernest Maltravtrt
Alice

The CaxtoDS
Night and Morning
The Last of the Barons
Bngene Aram
Harold
Bienst

Paul CUfford
Melbourne House
Home Influence ■
The Mother's Roeom-

pense
Woman's Priendihip
Hw Vale of Cedars
Hie Days of Bnioe
YeaH
Lm of the Scottish

Cavaliers
Alton Looke
Guy Fawkes
ITie Tower of London
The Wide, Wide World
Daisy

Daisy in the Held

Queechy

Ellen Montgomery's

Bookshelf
Pine Keedlet
Little Women and Goon

Wives
The Lamplightw
Infelice
St. Xlmo
Beulah
At the Mercy of TIbertus

Maoaria

Vasha

IneE

Robinson Crusoe

BenHur

Swiss Family Robinson

Peter the Whaler

Eenilworth

Woodstock

Ivanhoe

Bride of Lammennoor

The Fair Maid of Perth

Old Mortality

The Talisman

Bob Roy

Scott's Poetical Works

Heart of Midlothian

The Fortunes of Nigel

Feveril of the Peak

Waverley

Guy Mannering

Quentin Durward

Longfellow's Poems

Aunt Jane's Hero

Stepping Heavenward

Peter Simple

Masterman Ready

Poor Jack

Mr. Midshipman Kasy
Jacob Faithful

Pirate— Three Cutters

Japhet In search of a
Father

Prince of the House of
David

Throne of David

Pillar of Fire

Bunyan's Pilgrim's
Progress

The Vicar of Wakefield

Naomi

Last of the Mohicans

The Deerslayer

The Prairie

llift Pioneers

The Pathfinder

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Shakespeare's Works

The Odlviea

Olive

The Head of the Family

The Sketch Book

The Three Musketeers

Twenty Years After

Vicomte de Bri^elonne

Souci

The MUls of the Gods

Grimm's Fairy Tales

Andersen's Fairy Tales

Opening aChestnut Burr

Monte Crlsto

Byron's Poetical Works

Windsor Castle

From Jest to Earnest

Barriers Burned Away

A Knight of the Nine-
teenth Century

Vlllette

The Old Helmet

Agatha's Husband

Ruth

Peg Wofflngton

The Disowned

Hypatia

Cranford

Mabel Vaughan

The Fair God

Tom Cringle's Log

Cruise of the Mi&

Tales &3ketche8,Bret

Harte
Mansfield Park
The Yellowplush Papers
What Can She Dot

The Scottish Chiefs

FaithGartney'sGlrlhood

Elsie Venner

Tour of the World In

Eighty Days
Two Years Before the

Mast
Hunchback of Notre

Dame
The Arabian Nights
Bums' Poems
The Toilers of the Sea
The Poacher
Newton Forstet
Frank Mildmay
Mark Seaworth
Bracebridge Htdl
Little Fishers and their

Nets
Ester RIed, Asleep and

Awake
Ruth Erskine's Crosses
Sidney Martin
Mrs. Caudle's CurtaiD

Lectures
The Gates Ajar
Louise de la Vallifere
Bf an in the Iron Mask
The Son of Porthos
Without A Home
Northanger Abbey
The King's Daughter
Ester Kied Yet Speaking
The Rifie Rangers
Ninety-Three
Emma

The Innocents Abroad
John Ward, Preacher
The Pilot
Afloat and Ashore
He would be a Gentle-
man
New Pilgrim's Progress

Old St. Paul's

The Collegians ; or, The

Colleen Bawn
Tales and Sketches of the

Covenanters
The Romance of War
The Adventures of an

Aide-de-Carop
Jane Seton
The Scottish Cavalier ; or

The First Royal Scott
The Home Cookety Book