safely moored alongside the wharf, among twenty-nine other vessels
of various rigs captured by the Orpheus.

As several other ships of war had sent in prizes, we altogether formed a
very jovial set of midshipmen. There were seven of us from the Orpheus
alone, and, as I was senior officer, they were generally my guests. I
had really a very elegant cabin, nicely fitted up with every
convenience, and a comfortable stove, besides which I collected from the
various prizes an ample stock of good things to supply the wants of the
inner man. Never indeed had I enjoyed more perfect luxury, or greater
rest and relaxation, without one anxious care, one unhappy moment to
extract the sweets from my existence, free from all the rubs and kicks
and snubs midshipmen seem the natural heirs to, so I smiled at fortune
and defied its frowns.

I was for a short time, however, made to quake, for after the Orpheus
had, during December, sent in several prizes, she arrived herself with
two others, and some of my messmates had to return on board. But
Captain Hudson, whose good opinion I had won, gave me directions, to my
infinite contentment, to remain in charge of the prizes. I had also a
sufficient number of companions to bear me company. Numberless were the
pranks we Orlopians played. Some might now make me blush, though,
generally, if not wise they were harmless. I remember that we did our
skipper and the captain of the Daphne out of three cases of claret which
they had marked for their own use. It happened that, as we were
preparing to keep Christmas Day, some one bethought him of the three
cases. They were sent for. One of them was broached at dinner-time,
and found so excellent that we drank up the whole; but, as we were doing
so, our consciences were alarmed, and we ordered the bottles and corks
to be kept. The next day we employed ourselves in refilling them from
the casks, and in carefully corking and sealing them. Some time
afterwards I was dining with our captain, when one of the cases was
produced. The opinion of the guests was asked. Some thought it
excellent. Delisle, who was there, looked at me, but we kept our
countenances. Our first lieutenant, who was considered a judge,
pronounced it good, but he found very little difference between it and
the wine in cask.

Among other things we came on some casks of limes--excellent things, be
it known, in the composition of punch. The said fruit we accordingly
ate up or