aptain Hoffman,--In the name of the Court and myself I present you the
sword, which by your conduct you so well merit."

The author spent about two years in France, and during his captivity there
did excellent service to his country by opening and superintending a
school for the midshipmen who were also prisoners of war at Verdun.

It appears that he wrote these records of his life while residing at Dover
in 1838. He evidently intended to have them published, but for some reason
or another they have never hitherto been printed.

The Editors, in presenting them to the public more than sixty years after
they were originally written, think that they will prove of general
interest, not because they lay claim to literary excellence, but because
they present a simple, unexaggerated picture of the everyday life in the
navy a century ago, and give us an insight into the characters of the men
who helped to build up the sea power of Great Britain, and to bring her to
her present position of political and commercial greatness.

_November, 1901._

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY EXPERIENCES.

My mother consents to my going to sea--Journey to Portsmouth--Join H.M.S.
_Blonde_--Take General Prescott and suite on board--We sail--Supply West
Indiamen with provisions and in return impress six seamen--Windbound at
Falmouth--Again sail--Attacked by four French frigates, but escape and again
make Falmouth--Finally sail for West Indies--Amusements in crossing the
Equator.

_pp. 1-17_

CHAPTER II.

WEST INDIES.

Arrival in West Indies--Cruise among the French Islands--Bombardment and
capture of St. Pierre, Dominique--Attack on Fort Bourbon--Capture of
Forts--Surrender of General Rochambeau and the French garrison.

_pp. 18-29_

CHAPTER III.

RETURN TO ENGLAND.

Sail for England with despatches--A lunar rainbow--A two-tailed fish--Reach
Falmouth after passage of fifteen days--To Plymouth to refit--All leave
refused--Sailors' frolics ashore--To sea again--Cruise off French coast and
Channel Islands--Run aground off Guernsey--Return to Plymouth to repair
damages--Rejoin fleet--French flee