nce what I did
not find out till some time afterwards. The captain had agreed to
receive him to oblige a brother officer, who had retired from the
service, and lived in the Highlands of Scotland. The first notice
which the captain had of the arrival of Mr. M'Foy, was from a letter
written to him by the young man's uncle. This amused him so much, that
he gave it to the first lieutenant to read. It ran as follows;--

Glasgow, April 25th, 1---.

"Sir,

"Our much esteemed and mutual friend, Captain M'Alpine, having
communicated by letter, dated the 14th inst., your kind intentions
relative to my nephew Sholto M'Foy, (for which you will be pleased to
accept my best thanks,) I write to acquaint you that he is now on
his way to join your ship the Diomede, and will arrive, God willing,
twenty-six hours after the receipt of this letter.

"As I have been given to understand by those who have some
acquaintance with the service of the King, that his equipment as an
officer will be somewhat expensive, I have considered it but fair
to ease your mind as to any responsibility on that score, and have
therefore enclosed the half of a Bank of England note for ten pounds
sterling, No. 3742, the other half of which will be duly forwarded in
a frank promised to me the day after tomorrow. I beg you will make the
necessary purchases, and apply the balance, should there be any,
to his mess account, or any other expenses which you may consider
warrantable or justifiable.

"It is at the same time proper to inform you, that Sholto had ten
shillings in his pocket at the time of his leaving Glasgow; the
satisfactory expenditure of which I have no doubt you will inquire
into, as it is a large sum to be placed at the discretion of a youth
only fourteen years and five months old. I mention his age, as Sholto
is so tall that you might be deceived by his appearance, and be
induced to trust to his prudence in affairs of this serious nature.
Should he at any time require further assistance beyond his pay, which
I am told is extremely handsome to all king's officers, I beg you to
consider that any draft of yours, at ten days' sight, to the amount
of five pounds sterling English, will be duly honoured by the firm of
Monteith, M'Killop, and Company, of Glasgow. Sir, with many thanks for
your kindness and consideration,

"I remain your most obedient,

"WALTER MONTEITH."

The letter br