espect, 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 I'll 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." However, into the boat we went, and pulled
away for old Sallyport. 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 I 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, damn me, sir, the poop
was crowded like a sheepfold, and all bellowing to me for help. I told
them all to go to hell, 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