h I believe took place but twice. He used to
tell the masters of the vessels that I was quite as good a pilot as he
was, which certainly was not quite correct; however, it was of great
consequence to me, as it gave me that confidence so necessary in my
profession, and in due time I passed for a river pilot at the Trinity
House. Some alteration occurred at the hospital during this interval.
Anderson had been promoted from boatswain of the ward to inspecting
boatswain, a place of trust, with very comfortable emoluments, his
weekly allowance being increased to five shillings; and on his promotion
my father was made a boatswain's mate of the Warriors' Ward. This was
at first satisfactory to my mother, who was pleased that my father
should wear lace upon his pensioner's coat; but, as she advanced in the
world, she did not like the idea of my father being in the hospital, nor
did she want him to be at her house--in fact, she could have done better
without him; but, as that could not be, she made the best of it. It
must be acknowledged that my father's boisterous and rude manner had
been softening down ever since he had been in the hospital, and that he
had become a very well-behaved, quiet, and sober person, and was very
respectable in his appearance; but I shall say more about him when I
talk of my mother again. Old Nanny went on much as usual, but on the
whole she improved. I used to pick up for her anything I could, and put
it in a large bag which I occasionally brought to Greenwich, and this
bag, with its multifarious contents, would give her more pleasure than
if I had brought her any single object more valuable. Old Anderson used
to call upon her occasionally, but he did not do her much good. She
appeared to think of hardly anything but getting money. She was always
glad to see me, and I believe thought more of me than anybody else in
the world, and I seldom failed to pay her a visit on the first day of my
arrival.

Dr Tadpole and his apprentice Tom went on pretty well together until
the hundredweight of liquorice was expended, and then there was a fresh
rising on the part of the injured and oppressed representative of the
lower orders, which continued till a fresh supply from London appeased
his radical feelings which had been called forth, and then the liquorice
made everything go on smoothly as before; but two years afterwards Tom
was out of his time, and then the doctor retained him as his assistant,
with a