on their collars and simple cockades in their hats, were
hurrying, with looks of importance, through the streets. Large placards
were everywhere posted up announcing the names of the ships requiring
men, and the advantages to be obtained by joining them: plenty of prize
money and abundance of fighting, with consequent speedy promotion; while
first lieutenants, and a choice band of old hands, were near by to win
by persuasion those who were protected from being pressed. Jack tars,
many with pig-tails, and earrings in their ears, were rolling about the
streets, their wives or sweethearts hanging at their elbows, dressed in
the brightest of colours, huge bonnets decked with flaunting ribbons on
their heads, and glittering brass chains, and other ornaments of glass,
on their necks and arms. As I drove down the High Street I had met a
crowd surrounding a ship's gig on wheels. Some fifty seamen or more
were dragging it along at a rapid rate, leaping and careering, laughing
and cheering. In the stern sheets sat a well-known eccentric
post-captain with the yoke lines in his hands, while he kept bending
forward to give the time to his crew, who were arranged before him with
oars outstretched, making believe to row, and grinning all the time in
high glee from ear to ear. It was said that he was on his way to the
Admiralty in London, the Lords Commissioners having for some
irregularity prohibited him from leaving his ship except in his gig on
duty. Whether he ever got to London I do not know.

On arriving at Portsmouth, I had gone to the Blue Posts, an inn of old
renown, recommended by my brother Harry, who was then a midshipman, and
who had lately sailed for the East India station. It was an inn more
patronised by midshipmen and young lieutenants than by post-captains and
admirals. I had there expected to meet Captain Hassall, the commander
of the _Barbara_, but was told that, as he was the master of a
merchantman, he was more likely to have gone to the Keppel's Head, at
Portsea. Thither I repaired, and found a note from him telling me to
come off at once, and saying that he had had to return on board in a
hurry, as he found that several of his men had no protection, and were
very likely to be pressed, one man having already been taken by a
press-gang, and that he was certain to inform against the others. Thus
it was that I came to embark at the Common Hard at Portsea, and had to
beat down the harbour.

"Do you think