many perfections attend
That the rational comfort of life is a friend."
DIBDIN.

In the early part of the present century the poet Dibdin wrote with
great feeling and spirit concerning the "generous Britons and the
barbarous French." There is no doubt about it, the French in those days
were far more cruel to their prisoners than ever we were to ours.

And so the wounded on board the _Tonneraire_ were absolutely astounded
at the kind treatment they experienced under good M'Hearty and his
assistants. The surgeon himself looked in face--or figure-head--as rough
and weather-beaten a sailor as ever trod a plank, but in heart he was as
tender as any woman.

More than one of his poor patients wrung the doctor's red hands, and,
with tears rolling over their sallow cheeks, prayed Heaven to bless him
for his goodness and sympathy.

But this was not all, for even the men were good to the prisoners. Many
a morsel of tobacco did they give them on the sly; and if a Jack-tar
observed that one was asleep in his hammock, he would sign to his
fellows to make as little noise as possible. It is no wonder, therefore,
that the "Froggies," as they were called, nearly all recovered from
their wounds. Two or three, however, succumbed, and these were buried
with as much ceremony as if they had been British sailors. The same
impressive and beautiful service was repeated by the grating where the
body lay; the same solemn silence prevailed while it was being read; and
I am not sure that some of our Jacks did not even shed a tear--on the
sly, that is, for your true sailor ever tries to hide two things, his
grief and his tender-heartedness--as with dull plash the body dropped
into the sea.

* * * * *

Contrary winds and storms delayed the voyage. Nearly a whole month flew
by, and still the little fleet had not yet reached the longitude of
Newfoundland. But to his credit be it told, Jack and his officers had
managed to keep them all well together, and had not lost one.

The _Tonneraire_ was a very happy ship, the primary reason being that
Jack Mackenzie, though a thorough upholder of the sacredness of duty,
was really kind and thoughtful at heart. He knew the value in the
service of strict obedience to command. I have heard it said that a
man-o'-war sailor or a soldier is a mere machine. He is not even that,
he is only part of a machine; but he has the honour to