n in charge tell me he has had a rough affair with a
vessel armed _en flute_, and that he has lost some men. Your brother
Philip, as usual, is wounded."

I should here observe, that during the year which had passed away, the
two privateers had been several times in port--they had met with
moderate success, barely sufficient to pay their expenses; my brother
Philip had always conducted himself very gallantly, and had been twice
wounded in different engagements.

"Well, Sir," replied I, "I do not think that the loss of a little
blood will do any harm to such a hot-headed youth as Master Philip;
but I hope in a short time to give him an opportunity of shedding it
in the service of the king, instead of in the pursuit of money.
Indeed," continued I, as I sat down to table, "the enemy are now so
cautious, or have so few vessels on the high seas, that I fear your
privateering account current will not be very favourable, when
balanced, as it will be in a few days, notwithstanding this cargo of
wares just arrived."

"Then we must hope better for next year," replied Mr. Trevannion.
"Amy, my dear, have you been out to-day?"

"Yes, Sir; I was riding for two hours."

"Have they altered your pillion yet?"

"Yes, Sir; it came home last night, and it is now very comfortable."

"I called at Mrs. Carleton's, who is much better. What a fop that Mr.
Carleton is--I don't know what scented powder he uses, but it perfumed
the whole room. Had not Mrs. Carleton been such an invalid, I should
have opened the window."

Mr. Trevannion then turned the conversation to some political
intelligence which he had just received, and this engaged us till the
dinner was over, and I returned to the counting-house, where I found
the men who had brought in the prize, and who gave me a letter from
Philip, stating that his wound was of no consequence.

The communication of Mr. Trevannion took place, as his daughter had
assured me it would, on the anniversary of my entering into Mr.
Trevannion's counting-house. After dinner, as we, as usual, were
smoking our pipes, Mr. Trevannion said: "Elrington, you have been with
me now one year, and during that time you have made yourself fully
master of your business; much to my surprise, I acknowledge, but still
more to my satisfaction. That I have every reason to be satisfied with
you, you may imagine, when I tell you that it is now my intention to
take you into partnership, and I trust by my so doing that you w