ich, I
hope, all my readers will maintain with me.

Once it happened during my summer holidays that, most unwillingly, I was
taken up to London. During the time, a naval friend, having compassion
on me, suggested that I might find matter of interest by a trip to
Greenwich, and a visit to the Hospital. I jumped at the proposal. I
can never forget the feelings with which I entered the wide, smooth
space on which that beautiful collection of buildings stands, forming
the Royal Hospital for Seamen, with its broad terrace facing the river,
and found myself surrounded by many hundreds of the gallant veterans who
had maintained not only so nobly the honour of Old England on the deep,
but had contributed to preserve her from the numberless foes who had
threatened her with destruction.

The building is of itself interesting. On this spot once stood the
Royal Palace of Placentia, in which no less than four successive
sovereigns were born--Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth, Mary, and
Elizabeth. Charles the Second had intended to rebuild it, but left it
unfinished; and it was put into the heart of good Queen Mary, the wife
of William of Orange, to establish that noble institution for the
reception of the disabled seamen of the Royal Navy, which, much
augmented in size, has ever since existed the noblest monument to a
sovereign's memory.

I visited the beautiful chapel and the painted hall, where already were
hung a number of fine pictures, illustrative of England's naval
victories; and my friend then took me to see an old shipmate of his, who
was one of the officers of the Hospital. When he heard that I wished to
go to sea, and was so warm an admirer of Nelson, he exclaimed--"He'll
just suit me. Let him stay here for a few days. We'll fish out some of
our men who long served with Nelson, and if he keeps his ears turning
right and left he'll hear many a yarn to astonish him. He must have
patience though. The old fellows will not open out at once; their
memories are like wells, you must throw a little water down at first
before you can get them to draw."

I was delighted with the proposal. My friend, however, began to make
excuses, saying that he ought to take me back, and that I had no clothes
with me. At this the Greenwich officer, Lieutenant R---, laughed
heartily.

"A shirt-collar and a pocket-comb? What does a midshipman want more?"
he exclaimed. "But I will find him all the luxuries he may require.
Let him