s uncle
in India, wishing one of his daughters to go out and live with him. In
a few months he read another letter (composed by himself, and copied in
another hand), earnestly desiring that they might all come out to him,
as it would be much to their advantage. The reluctance of the two
eldest was removed by pointing out the magnificent establishments they
might secure: the consent of Isabel by a statement of difficulty and
debt on the part of her parents, which would end in beggary if not
relieved from the burden of their support.

By insuring her life, a sum of money sufficient for their outfit and
passage was raised on Mrs Revel's marriage settlement; and the three
Miss Revels were thus shipped off by their affectionate parents, as a
"venture," in the Bombay Castle.

VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

"Thus the rich vessel moves in trim array,
Like some fair virgin on her bridal day:
Thus like a swan, she cleaves the watery plain,
The pride and wonder of the Aegean main.

"The natives, while the ship departs the land,
Ashore, with admiration gazing stand:
Majestically slow before the breeze,
In silent pomp, she marches on the seas."
FALCONER.

Much to the satisfaction of Captain Drawlock, the chronometers and the
ladies were safe on board, and the Bombay Castle proceeded to the Downs,
where she was joined by the purser, charged with the despatches of the
august directors. Once upon a time a director was a very great man, and
the India board a very great board. There must have been a very great
many plums in the pudding, for in this world people do not take trouble
for nothing; and until latter years, how eagerly, how perseveringly was
this situation applied for--what supplicating advertisements--what
fawning and wheedling promises of attention to the interests of the
proprietors--your "voices, good people!" But now nobody is so
particularly anxious to be a director, because another board "bigger
than he" has played the kittiwake, and forced it to disgorge for the
consumption of its superior,--I mean the Board of Control: the reader
has probably heard of it; the board which, not content with the European
residents in India being deprived of their proudest birthright, "the
liberty of the press," would even prevent them from having justice
awarded to them, by directing two tame elephants (thereby implying two
--- ---) to be placed on each side of a wild one (thereby implying an
honest and