ng man, that, to my certain knowledge, had not
tasted grog for months; for his messmates gave him a hiding whenever he
asked for his allowance. To the sudden, "You're drunk, sir," of Captain
Reud, the simple youth, taken by surprise, and perhaps thinking it
against the articles of war to contradict the captain, said, "Yes, sir;
but I haven't tasted grog since--"

"You got drunk, sir; take him aft, master-at-arms, and put him in
irons."

The scrutiny over, our temperate captain went aft himself, glorifying
that, in all the ship's company, there was only one instance of
intoxication on Christmas-day; and thus he delivered himself; hiccupping
on the gratifying occasion:

"I call that discipline, Mr Farmer. The only drunken man in his
Majesty's vessel, under my command, aft on the poop, in irons, and that
fellow not worth his salt."

"I quite agree with you," said the sneering purser, "that the only
fellow who has dared to get disgracefully drunk to-day, is not worth his
salt, but he is not in irons, aft on the poop."

"I am sure he is not," said the first lieutenant.

"That is as--astonishing," said the mystified extirpator of
intemperance, as he staggered into his cabin, to console himself for,
and to close his labours with, the two other bottles.

The reader will perceive, from these incidents, that it was time that
Captain Reud retired to enjoy his laurels on his _solum natale_ in
_otium cum_ as much _dignitate_ as would conduce to the happiness of one
of his mischief-loving temperament. The admiral on the station thought
so too, when Reud took the ship into Port Royal. He superseded the
black pilot, and took upon himself to con the ship; the consequence was,
that she hugged the point so closely, that she went right upon the
church steeple of old Port Royal, which is very quietly lying beside the
new one, submerged by an earthquake, and a hole was knocked in the
ship's forefoot, of that large and ruinous description which may be
aptly compared to the hole in a patriot's reputation, who has lately
taken office with his quondam opponents. With all the efforts of all
the fleet, that sent relays of hands on board of us to work the pumps,
we could not keep her afloat; so we were obliged, first putting a
thrummed sail under her bottom, to tow her alongside of the dockyard
wharf, lighten her, and lash her to it.

The same evening, by nine o'clock, she had an empty hull, and all the
ship's company and officers we