had dressed himself in long
toggery as a captain of a merchant vessel, and was believed to be such.

Having satisfied myself that everything went on favourably in that
quarter, I again returned to Chatham, that I might escort my mother and
grandmother into Devonshire. We bade farewell to my aunt and Captain
Bridgeman, and set off for London, where we remained a few days at an
hotel, and then took the day coach down to Ilfracombe, where my mother
had decided upon taking up her future residence, changing her name to
Ogilvie, which had been my grandmother's maiden name.

Ilfracombe was then a beautiful retired spot, and well suited to my
mother from its cheapness: with their joint incomes, my grandmother and
she could command anything they wished. We soon hired a very pretty
little cottage _ornee_, ready furnished, as my mother would not furnish
a house until she had ascertained whether there were no drawbacks to the
locality. I ought to observe, that my grandmother now appeared quite as
partial to me as she had before been otherwise. I treated her with
great respect.

Although it was not difficult to obtain a renewal of leave from a
guard-ship, after I had remained six weeks with my mother, it was
necessary that I should make my appearance at Portsmouth. It was
arranged that I should take my departure for Portsmouth in three days,
when, on reading the Plymouth newspaper, I learnt that the
newly-launched frigate Manilla, of 44 guns, was put in commission, and
that the Honourable Captain Delmar had come down and hoisted his
pennant. This, of course, changed my plans. I resolved to set off for
Plymouth, and wait upon Captain Delmar. I wrote to Bob Cross, enclosing
an order for my chest and bedding on board of the guard-ship at
Portsmouth, acquainting him with my intention, but requesting him not to
act until he heard from me again.

I had a long conversation with my mother, from whom I obtained a renewal
of her promise to abide and act by my instructions. I took a respectful
farewell of my grandmother, who gave me 100 pounds, which I did not
want, as my mother had given me a similar sum, and then set off for
Plymouth.

The reader may perhaps inquire how it was that Captain Delmar--as he had
promised to pay my expenses--had not made any offer of the kind, or
communicated with me on the subject? But the fact was, that he knew I
had three years' pay due, besides the prize-money for the Dutch frigate,
which, how