she pursued for the
accomplishment of this important aim.

Through the rough unpolished hulk that cased the soul of Trunnion, she
could easily distinguish a large share of that vanity and self-conceit
that generally predominate even in the most savage beast; and to this
she constantly appealed. In his presence she always exclaimed against
the craft and dishonest dissimulation of the world, and never failed of
uttering particular invectives against those arts of chicanery in
which the lawyers are so conversant, to the prejudice and ruin of their
fellow-creatures; observing that in a seafaring life, as far as she
had opportunities of judging or being informed, there was nothing but
friendship, sincerity, and a hearty contempt for everything that was
mean or selfish.

This kind of conversation, with the assistance of certain particular
civilities, insensibly made an impression on the mind of the commodore,
and the more effectual as his former prepossessions were built upon very
slender foundations. His antipathy to old maids, which he had conceived
upon hearsay, began gradually to diminish when he found they were not
quite such infernal animals as they had been presented; and it was not
long before he was heard to observe, at the club, that Pickle's sister
had not so much of the core of b-- in her as he had imagined. This
negative compliment, by the medium of her brother, soon reached the
ears of Mrs. Grizzle, who, thus encouraged, redoubled in her arts and
attention; so that, in less than three months after, he in the same
place distinguished her with the epithet of a d--d sensible jade.

Hatchway, taking the alarm at this declaration, which he feared
foreboded something fatal to his interest, told his commander, with a
sneer, that she had sense enough to bring him to under her stern; and he
did not doubt but that such an old crazy vessel would be the better for
being taken in tow. "But howsomever," added this arch adviser, "I'd have
you take care of your upper-works; for if once you are made fast to her
poop, egad! She'll spank it away, and make every beam in your body crack
with straining."

Our she-projector's whole plan had like to have been ruined by the
effect which this malicious hint had upon Trunnion, whose rage and
suspicion being wakened at once, his colour changed from tawny to a
cadaverous pale, and then shifting to a deep and dusky red, such as we
sometimes observe in the sky when it is replete with thun