hanges took place in his ship; but it
was observed, that those who had left him from a spirited resistance
were kindly received, and benefited by his patronage, while those who
submitted were neglected. Like a pretty but clever woman, who is aware
that flattery is to be despised, and yet, from habit, cannot exist
without it so Captain Bradshaw exacted the servility which he had been
accustomed to, yet rewarded not those by whom it was administered. All
the midshipmen promoted on the station had to pass through the ordeal of
sailing with Captain Bradshaw, who generally had a vacancy; and it
certainly had a good effect upon those young men who were inclined to
presume upon their newly acquired rank: for they were well schooled
before they quitted his ship.

When Courtenay and his party went on board of the frigate, the
first-lieutenant, master, and surgeon, indignant at language which had
been used to them by the captain, refused to dine in the cabin, when
they were invited by the steward, who reported to Captain Bradshaw that
the officers would not accept his invitation.

"Won't they, by God? I'll see to that. Send my clerk here."

The clerk made his appearance, with an abject bow.

"Mr Powell, sit down, and write as I dictate," said Captain Bradshaw,
who, walking up and down the fore-cabin, composed a memorandum, in
which, after a long preamble, the first-lieutenant, master, and surgeon,
were directed to dine with him every day, until further orders. Captain
Bradshaw, having signed it, sent for the first-lieutenant, and delivered
it himself into his hands.

"Ferguson!--Bradly!" cried the first-lieutenant, entering the gun-room,
with the paper in his hand, "here's something for all three of us,--a
positive order to dine with the skipper every day, until he gets tired
of our company."

"I'll be hanged if I do," replied the surgeon. "I'll put myself in the
sick-list."

"And if I am obliged to go, I'll not touch anything," rejoined the
master. "There's an old proverb, `you may lead a horse to the pond, but
you can't make him drink.'"

"Whatever we do," replied Roberts, the first-lieutenant, "we must act in
concert; but I have been long enough in the service to know that we must
obey first, and remonstrate afterwards. That this is an unusual order,
I grant, nor do I know by what regulations of the service it can be
enforced; but at the same time I consider that we run a great risk in
refusing to obey it. O