,.^... ^ sj: IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 Ui}^ 12.5 ■UUt- 1.8 11-25 IIIIII.4 mil 1.6 V] % / 7 /^ "^EP9" I THE CHASE. " You sec this chase is hotly followed." Henry the Fifth, VOL. 1. B Ill „(.»»^.*» »l*,ir«i^il|t I i I THE CHASE. CHAPTER I. " Use thou all the endeavour of a man." Merchant of Venice. « Take pains, my lads, — take pains— turn 'em close in— and see that all your throat-seizings are properly passed." This caution, delivered in a kindly tone, fell from the lips of Mister John Thomas Tobias Tarbucket, who is thus early intro- b2 * THE CHASE. (iuced to the reader as Premier (to use the present fashionable phrase) of His Majesty's Ship S , located « " Weighing r " Yes, Sir, — only waiting for you." " Then we'll soon be-off. Launch in ?" " Yes, Sir, and ship at a short-stay." " A short stay indeed," interposed the Consul, mistaking the professional report of the young- ster. " Bravo, Tarbucket !" exclaimed the captain ; then muttering to himself, " I'm sure the poor fellow must have been right glad to have had me out of the way." Though somewhat addicted to what sailors term " shore-going pleasure," Sir S. had no \\\ I Lll THE CHASE. 13 objection to a little maritime amusement in the regular way of war. In descending a ravine, his horse made a false step, and the captain was thrown with his right arm under him, which received so severe a con- tusion as to be wholly useless, and gave rise to a fear that his shoulder was dislocated. Intent, however, on reaching the ship, he heeded not his pain, and again mounting his horse, hurried on- wards. But Fate seemed maliciously disposed, and not content with one infliction, determined on another. His horse, starting at some object in the road, curveted so suddenly, that he pitched his rider over his head. By this second disaster. Sir S. was alarmingly hurt. Lame and bleeding, his right arm in a sling, his left leg severely crippled, his head bandaged with a black * Bandana,' he at length reached the landing-place, supported by his trusty cox- swain, who had already run to the aid of his maimed commander. Stretched in a reclining 14 THE CHASE. ,» I i ■ I'll w posture in the stern -sheets of his gig, Sir S. was rowed from the beach, followed in the jolly-boat by the two * young gentlemen' already men- tioned. The day wasbeautifully bright, but the breeze sufficiently fresh to retard the progress of both boats. " Good Heavens!" ejaculated Tarbucket, un- able to account for the maimed appearance of his captain, who, as the gig approached the ship, had partly raised his bleeding head—** I'll bet a guinea to a quarterly- bill, those rascally Portuguese have been trying to spit the skipper — d — d assassinating scoundrels ! — Well — he ivill be so fond of foreigners. — Messenp^er, down to the doctor, desire him to get his traps and turniquets ready in the captain's cabin. — It's no Jokef I know, by Johnson's face." The coxswain's countenance certainly looked ominous and drear; and this was the more noticeable, inasmuch as his wonted aspect was 4 «■ THE CHASE. 15 fig, SirS. was the jolly-boat already men- but the breeze ►gress of both rarbucket, un- appearance of )proached the ^ head—" I'll those rascally •it the skipper I !— Well— he ssenfrer, down liis traps and ibin. — It's no •tainly looked JS the more id aspect was remarkable for its uniformly jolly, good-natured character ; but at present it wore an anxious expression. The surgeon and his mate (for in those en- dearing days of war and wisdom, the dignified title of < assistantf* had not been applied to that serviceable class of officers) were already in the cabin, preparing to receive their suffering com- mander. " Never mind me," said Sir S., as with feeble and limping pace he descended the quarter-deck ladder, leading to his cabin. — " Never mind me, Tarbucket, — trip the anchor, and crack on her every thing low and aloft." The last syllables of the sentence were barely audible. The captain's intention had been anticipated — the anchor was rapidly weighed, and in a very few minutes the lofty frigate was seen under a crowd of canvas, ' close-hauled with a beauti- ful breeze.' The position of the chase was that of all I'f > I »: \ ! \ f 1 / > { 16 THE CHASE. Others the most favourable to a flying foe — hull down in the wiud's-eye of her distant pursuer. " Bravo — bravo —that's the breeze!" eja- culated the delighted lieutenant^ as he stood in his favourite position, eyeing aloft the complain- ing spars — " Come in they must — Topmen aloft, stand by to take in the royals." Ascending with fearless foot the retaut- ened rigging, the topmen had reached their elevated stand, awaiting the judicious move- ment and word on which depended the deli- cately-nice manoeuvre. " Lulf, boy, luff — luff to the breeze. — Give her a bit of a nip — shake it out of 'em. Mind ! — don't start the weather-sheets,"— -roared the cautious Tarbucket. « Ready, for'ard?" « All ready. Sir." " Ready, abaft ?" " All ready. Sir," re-echoed a shriller tone. " In royals," thundered the first lieutenant, through his battered trumpet. I .1 iil I', THE C1IA8E. 17 ing foe— hull it pursuer, eeze !" eja- lie stood ill le complain- opmen aloft, the retaut- ached their ious move- d the deli- eze. — Give m. Mind ! ■roared tiie Her tone, lieutenant. But as if reluctant to resign their lofty posts, the royals were not so easily to be taken in. " Curse the kites !" exclaimed Tarbucket, not a little mortified at his precautionary mea- sures failing in effect, and at the unseemly sight of the light and lofty canvas bagging to lee- ward, and wildly flapping in the wind — " There they go" he continued, " flying to the d — 1. * Well, well ! patience is a virtue." The royals at length reached their destiny on deck. And now in all liis glory might be seen the ' stout gentleman,' pacing the sloping deck, puffing his bloated cheeks, and rubbing his delicate digits with all the enthusiasm of a delighted seaman. " Come, thank Heaven, they're in at last. — We may now do something — A fellow's no chance with a clipper, with any thing over a double- reefed taupsle. — 'Now^ she walks — that's the snuTfler. — Well done, old girl — there's a lady — sheUl do it — do it, ay, as sure's as Tom's Tom." And now to deviate a little into the approved "*>, 1 < li; (I * h kM , I rii ■■ 18 THE CHASE. superfine style of writers of romance, wlio, though thoroughly ignorant of nautical mr.tters, love to luxuriate in salt-water scenes — the stately S in all her majesty of mien obliquely yielded to the blast — ploughing the agitated {leep — throwing high in air the sparkling spray, and bursting beneath her bounding bow the briny billow in boiling foam. In the more in- telligible language of Lieutenant Tarbucket, the ship was leaning over to leeward a couple of streaks — shipping green seas fore-and-aft, foaming at the bows, and tearing through it at the rate of ten knots an hour. The supporters of the * turf,* triumphantly assert that a horse-race is the most animating and exciting scene of which the mind of man can be susceptible; but there is a variety of causes incidental to a chase at sea beyond the comprehension of the patrons of the * Course.' What know they of the veering wind — the fleeting flaw — the dying breeze — the coming calm — the dawning day — the sudden gust — the THE CHASE. 19 'ce, wlio, 1 matters, le stately )bliqijeJy agitated g spray, )ow the iore ill- bucket, couple iMcl-aft, fb it at Imntly nating f man Hy of id the urse.' —tile miiig -the 'M sprung spar — the splitting sail — the increasing gale — the rising sea — the setting sun, and dreary night? But it is not the present purpose to descant on the alternations of hope and fear, to which the pursuing and pursued are equally subject. To proceed : — since the royals had been taken in, and subsequently another reef in the topsails, some three hours and a half had already elapsed. The * idlers' in the gun-room had discussed their * best-burned-pea' — vulgarly called coffee, — the merits of the chase, and the situation of their suffering captain. The usual routine of mustering the ship's company at quarters, had been purposely dis- pensed with, and each individual of the * watch below,' in his swinging dormitory, was partak- ing of * horizontal rest ' with the comfortable adjunct of a two-and-thirty pound shot by way of pillow. — The watch on deck, with the ex- ception of a few necessary hands attending the 't If I; ii I I ! III. i \ \ 1 : 20 THE CHASE. customary 'stand-by' ropes, were now seated in various parts of the waist, — congregating in groups between the main-deck guns, — holding colloquies on the chances of the chase; while the more speculative of the elder petty-officers, fathers of families, were seen looking through the ports, straining their eyes in their eager endciivoiirs to catch a transitory glance of the schooner's low and lengthy hull as she rose on the summit of the undulating swell. The executive officers were collected around the capstern interchanging opinions connected with the sailing of the ship ; whilst the younger of the 'young gentlemen' were stealing u[) from the lee-side endeavouring to catch the in- distinct murmurs of the master. "In trim! — stuff, man, stuff !" cried Tarbucket, rejecting a suggestion of the second lieutenant ; — "see how she carries her helm — a child might steer her. But you're just like others I could mention," throwing a significant glance I >?=■ THE CHASE. 21 >w seated gating in — holding se; while ^-officers, througli (ir eager :e of the J rose on i around )nnected younger ling u]) I the in- 'bucket, tenant ; I child )thers I glance at the master, " never, never satisfied, unless you're doing this and undoing that, — When will you learn to leave well alone ?" At this moment a topping sea breaking over the weather gangway, and flying aft in a broad sheet of water, half-drenched the disputing party. " Undo that, if you can !" said the master sneeringly. "That's leaving well alone," cried Funnel, the second lieutenant. " Never mind^^cools the corns," said Tar- bucket, throwing off his filled shoes, and beating his battered beaver against the breech of the neighbouring gun — " wouldn't give a straw for a fellow if he couldn't stand the soak of a little salt-water." " Salt-water ! — for my part," said the secciid lieutenant, "I've been just like a half-tide rock, — wet and dry the whole of the cruize." " Well ! — what worse are you for it ?" " None." " Then hold your tongue," said Tarbucket, — ■■■I "^ if If! rf I ]f 22 THE CHASE. " this is no time for childish talk — Nothing off — luff, boy, luff. I say, master, have we a moon to-night?" " We have — but you know she's young^^ re- turned the master, assuming a discouraging air of prophetic wisdom. " That's like you — like you. Mister Sound- ings ;— clean full, quarter-master — let her go through the water — I /ia^e a croaker — Youngster, down and ask the doctor how the captain is — How's her head now ? — coming-up ? — Don't like that — brings the sea on the bow — pile-driving's not her forte," The lieutenant's apparently unconnected soli- loquy was now interrupted by the noise of a sudden clash, followed by a quick succession of thunder-like claps. " The jib-stay's gone. Sir," bellowed the boat- swain. " Mind your weather-helm, my man — Man thejib-doicn haul — Driver brails." The furious flapping of the jib, together with 2 if THE CHASE. 23 )thing off — ve a moon )f ^ounffy re- Liraging air ker Sound- et her go Youngster, ptain is — ■Don't like e-driving's eeted soli- loise of a cession of I the boat- lan — Man sther with the sudden rush of fast-fleeting feet, shook the ship to her very centre. — The second-lieutenant had already flown forward on the forecastle, while the boatswain, with several seamen, liad collected on the bowsprit, displaying proofs of no ordinary muscular power as they gathered in the wildly agitated canvas. « What's that r vociferated the first lieute- nant. " A man overboard !^^ To prevent the flurry and confusion which this appalling cry so often produces, Tarbucket had long seen the propriety of " stationing" (in a manner peculiarly his own,) every man borne on the books to the performance of some specific duty. " Silence! fore-and-aft— every man to his station," cried Tarbucket, whose self-possession was strikingly contrasted with the manner of the master. The ship was instantly lufied to the wind— her way through the water deadened— the heavy 24 THE CHASE. V I •* I (,'l 'I If ■■ ( courses ' rapidly raised — the main-topsail hove to the mast — the ship rendered stationary — the grating hove over — the plank plunged from the port — the life-buoy cut away — the lee quarter- boat lowered — and disengaged from its tackles— and the coxswain seen standing erect in the stern-sheets, guiding his steerage by the directing voice and waving hand of the first-lieutenant, elevated on the taffrail. « Pull more to starboard — pull, pull, my lads ! larboard oars best. Now right as you go, right as you go — Who is he ? Who is he ?" " Bill Thompson, Sir, the captain of the folksel." " Poor fellow ! The best man in the ship. They don't see him in the boat — A little to leeward of the life-buoy. He's nearly at his last gasp — Another fathom and he fetches the plank. No, that, that*s his hat — that's not the man. — Good God ! he's gone." L 1 The mainsail and foresail arc called the "courses." V A THE CHASE. 25 i And now after meandering the dreary and remorseless deep a considerable distance astern of the ship, the disconsolate crew were seen to relinquish their search, and the brave boat breasting the surging sea slowly returning to the frigate. Not a syllable was heard on the S 's deck — melancholy pervaded every mind. — Si- lence was at length broken by the brief order, — " Up boat." The cutter had hardly been raised to the da- vits, ere the surgeon, hastily ascending the quar- ter-deck ladder, entreated that as little noise as possible might be made over the captain's head, adding that " the very movement of hoisting up the boat had half distracted his patient." " Ay, poor man — I dare say he suffers much — but I'm sure he'd suffer far more were he aware of poor Thompson's fate." " My dear friend, he knows nothing of the matter — he's nearly delirious ; and were he per- fectly sensible I should conceal the circumstance, c •A % .K .,; I I til III ■'i ■ ^\ Ml Mb rir: 26 THE CHASE. II ! 1' 'I ¥ :! V fl If m >« fl \ I-:, ( :» ! If' , i for 1 know that poor Thompson was one of his greatest favourites." " And deservedly too. — But come, we must make sail — get the noise over at once — Fill the main-yard. Man the fore and main tacks. Jib- hnliards and driver-sheet.^^ The word of command had hardly escaped the lieutenant's lips, ere the deep and heavy folds of the courses fell fluttering in the wind, their tacks run on board, and their sheets roused aft with the rapidity of thought, and the pursuer again seen under a press of swelling canvas, rapidly cleaving her way through the water. " Ah ! by this unfortunate affair," emphati- cally exclaimed Tarbucket, looking intently on the chase, with his glass resting on the weather side of the quarter-deck hammock-rails — " ah ! I see, we've lost considerable ground." " And I think we shall lose more yet," said tho master — " there's every appeai'ance of less wind." THE CHASE. t27 Whether it was in accordance with the stah^ maxim, that "silence gives consent," or that Tarbucket was not disposed to encourage the master in his gratuitous predictions, the lieute- nant made no reply, but merely turned to the binnacle, to ascertain the position of the ship's head. The sun had already * dipped' the horizon, and the breeze with the setting luminary was inclined more to lessen than increase ; — nor did the general indications of the sky induce an opinion in opposition to that already pronounced by the master. Tranquillity was again restored —the ham- mocks below re-tenanted — the seats in the waists resumed — whilst some few of the more mournful of Thompson's messmates occupied the coam- ings of the fore-hatchway, deploring their recent loss. " Poor Bet ! it 'ill be the breaking of her heart," said one of the sympathizing group, af- fecting to search for his quondam quid within c li W^^«F 28 THE CHASE. ' I hi I . t M m the lining of his little low tar-pauling hat — a movement evidently adopted to conceal from his companions symptoms of emotion — " it 'ill be the breakin' of her heart, I'm sartin sure — Never, never was woman fonder o' man — and, no wonder, — for Bill was reglarly born'd foi Bet." " And yet, Tom," interposed an equally sen sitive topman, " no one never can say as Bill, poor Bill ! was ever the man as liked to show his liking.'* " Sartinly not — he was none o* your cap-struck chaps — for Bet aboard, or Bet ashore, Bill was still the same — work ! work ! work ! and always willin'. — Nothin', no nothin', but the sein' of another iu trouble, ever seemed to give trouble to Bill." " Poor Bill ! — what a chap in the chains '." " Ay, Tom ! and such a song ' !" > Chains — channels, where the seaman stands pending the operation of heaving the lead. " The cry when giving the depth of water j for example, " By the dee-ee-eep nine .'" i r^i V THE CHASE. 29 ■k " He'd bunt a foresle ' himself, wou'tln't lie, Tom?" "Ay, Bob ! we as know'd him, knowM well his worth. — Well might the first-leaftennant say ho was the best aboard. Poor Bet ! — 1 thinks I sees her in the berth below in her usual, nice, natty, tidy trim— head-geer all in order (and it nicer head o* hair I never seed with a wcncli), clean cap, and white apron, overhaulin' poor Bill's chest and bag — I think I sees her afore me counting his traps on the mess-table— folding his shirts afresh, and clappin* *em atwixt her tidy hands — I think I sees her taking the creases out of his musterin'-trowsers— wipin* the mildew off the buttons of his best jacket, and cloanin' his combs ready for a Sunday tie'. — Poor soul ! I has her afore me as plain as the living light." » Foresail.—It is singular that the stress of the latter syl- lable, sail, always detects the landsman. For instance, the words top*flj7~fore«ai7— seamen pronounce short, topsle—forcule. ' On Sundays or gala days, the tail of the tar was wont to be exhibited at full length ; on week days and working djiys,— doubled up in a bight. c 3 ml 00 THE CHASE. " Ay, Bet was worthy o' Bill.— A nicer man- ner'd lass, nor a more modester slie-messmate, never sot foot afloat. Save * Handsome-SaV there, I never seed her equal afore." At this moment «* Handsome Sal," as desig- nated by the S 's ship's company, and who was then on board, being one of the few privi- leged of the petty officers' wives, who in those (lays were permitted to accompany their hus- bands on a cruize, had just passed the group on her way to 'ilace a kettle of water on the galley- grate. She was wife to the captain's coxswain, who was then in the cabin sitting by the cot-side of his suffering commander. i "i I I- '; \ • s CHAPTER II. " Night is the mother of counsels." Old English Proverb. The day was now drawing to its close, and tlie shades of night were falling fast. Tarbucket and Funnel were both standing at tlie capsteni, busily adjusting their night-glasses, preparatory to bringing them to bear upon the chase. " When did you last set the chase?" said Tarbucket) interrogating the mate of tlie watch. c 4 !•! mr^fmm I* 'I i It ' 'I 32 TcIE CHASE. " Not five minutes since, Sir,— she then bore sou-sou-west." " Exactly in the wind's-eye." " It's my opinion," said the second lieutenant, in a somewhat subdued tone — " it's my opinion she'll tack so soon as we lose the moon — I know / should do so." " I'll bet my existence," said Nipper, the third lieutenant, who had just joined his two brother-officers in * capstern square,' " I'll wager what you like, she edges away after dark, and tries to cross us a-head.— Old Canister, the gunner, thinks the same ; and you know, he's an o!d hand in a watch." The colloquy was here interrupted by the marine-officer popping his head up the quarter- deck ladder, and inquiring if the trio intended to take any supper. — " It's past three bells, you know, and the plug's * placed on the table." " D n it, soldier," said Tarbucket, " you * Plug— the common designation for cheese. -% I THE CHASE. 33 never think of any thing else, but stuffing your maw from morning till night." " And to get something for your maw— for you're just like every one else— grumble, when there's a southerly wind in the bread-bag." " Come, dive, soldier, dive — you'll have the dootor athwart your hawse directly." But the doctor had other occupation than that of quelling the idle loquacity of the most legiti- mate ^Hdler'* afloat. He was then in the very act of taking, for tlie second time, since the cap- tain was brought on board, blood from the arm of S:r S— . The « plug"-report— (and here we must bo permitted a moment's pause, to introduce for- mally to the reader, Mister Cheeks, first-lieute- nant of marines, and commanding the « party' embarked on board of his Majesty's ship, JS— . Mister Cheeks, Mister Reader— Mister Header, Mister Cheeks)— the " plug"-report, or ratijer the supper summons, was not, however, altoge- ther disregarded ; for tlie soldier was shortlv fol- c o ^■ppnsw ' •^iwft". !-;iiwP"«wifui„.i'iii«w«f I >«F«li..» i|J 34 THE CHASE. lowed to the gun-room by both Funnel and Nip- per, leaving Tarbucket on deck to " chaw the wind," and look out alone. But Tarbucket never could be said to be alone — nor in his wonted custom of soliloquizing aloud, did he ever more indulge than he now did, at the moment his messmates departed the deck. — " If a fellow," ejaculated our fat friend — " if a fellow was to follow the advice of every fellow afloat, he'd make a precious mess of the matter. — Here's one swears * she'll edge-away after dark ' — another ' she'll tack as soon as the moon goes down.' — Wonder what Mister Sound- ings say«i — How's her head, quarter-master ?" " West, Sir, — she's kept "-t that this last hour." «« Steadier than I thought. Youngster, — Rivers, down to the gun-room, — tell the caterer send me up a biscuit and a glass o' grog. — Tell Mister Nipper too, to remember it's his middle watch. — Wrap-full — do let her go through the water — Good look-out before ! See the 2 \ THE CHASE. 36 chase yet ? Who the devil '« that striking tlie bell?" The surgeon had now joined the lieutenant ou deck — *' The captain's situation," said the doctoi-, " is extremely critical — I hope tlie brain has re- ceived no injury; — however, things may take a favorable turn. — What are we likely to do with the chase?" ^^Do! — the best we can — though we should do better, if we hadn't this sivell on the bow — tlie other tack would suit us to a tee — but — see lu ;• yet ?" cried Tarbucket, leaving his sentence un- finished, and suddenly addressing the ' maie- of-the-watch,' who had been, for upwards of an hour, in the main-top with Funnel's inverted tele- scope fixed upon the chase. " Yes, Sir — about half a cable's length astern of that rising star before the beam." " Mind ! moment lose sight of her let's know. — That fellow's a capital eye — No walking there abaft ! — Jib taut up? — Another pull of the fore sheet. — Devilish tired, doctor — up since day- ca » i 1 I J TSSr I 36 IHE CHASE. iif r break. Dowse that infernal light in the waist !" The rapidity with which reniark and mandate were alternated in Tarbucket's mode of speech, convinced his medical messmate that however fatigued the corporeal mould, the mental man was fresh as ever. An J ^^ might the lieutenant have apostro- phised the pale departing * Queen of Night,* and have said with Shakspeare " The fleeting moon no planet is of mine." But for poetry, Tarbucket had no predilection — he never quoted a line in his life: — not that when cited at the mess-table, he disrelished an occasional couplet from * Faulkner's Shiptoreck,' to settle a disputed point in seamanship ; but to patronize verse, or indulge in other numbers save those of ' John Hamilton Moore,* the < Exe- cutive-chief,' had neither taste nor time. The pursuer was now no longer favored by the lunar light ; and as the master had left direc- THE CHASE. 37 tions "to be called so soon as the moon had dipped her lower-limb," Soundings had already appeared upei deck. " You may depend on it, by this,'' said he, addressing the first-lieutenant, "by this she's round on the other tack." " Master, do you know better," returned Tar- bucket in an unwonted earnestness of tone — " do you know better than the man whose eye, at this very moment, is fixed upon the chase ?" " Lost sight of the chase. Sir !" bellowed the mate from the main-top. " There it is,— just as I said !" exclaimed the master, assuming no little consequence upon the result of his prediction. " What's she going ?" inquired Tarbucket, turning from the master to the midshipman who had just completed the operation of * heaving the log.' " Six-and-two,' Sir." 11 * Six knots and two fathoms. i'^ 38 THE CHASE, If m- W "Wind slackens — never mind — must make the most of it." As if the already conflicting opinions of the executive officers had not been sufficiently per- plexing, the purser forsooth, who since his re- turn from the shore had not even once appeared upon deck, had now honoured the «king's-parade' with his puny presence, expressing it as his "firm conviction that tlie chase had decidedly taken an easterly course." " Taken an easterly course !— I wish, Mister Nip, you had taken any other course, than getting your bullock killed at this time of night. You know as well as I do, that this is no time for lights and lantherns to be skulling about the decks!" " My good Sir, we were compelled to kill it, to save it: ^ife — the animal must inevitably have died — you've no idea of the hurt he received in hoisting him in." " Stuff, man ! I thought you were an older stager than to allow yourself to be humbugged THE CHASE. 39 by a day-mate buflfer. The fellow only wants a blow-out of bullock's liver for supper/' Nor was this a gratuitous assumption, for, taking advantage of that portion of the galley- grate, which by the surgeon's desire ought to have been appropriated to the accommodation of the captain, the fire was now usurped by a black woolly-headed cook, who had been preparing for the said day-mate, the delicate relish of fried bullock's liver interlarded with slices of fat salt- pork. 4 i CHAPTER III. " For now sits Expectation in the air." Shakspeare. I 'TwAS now nearly midnight. Funnel and Nip- per had both by the desire of the first-lieutenant retired tc their respective cots, Tarbucket hav- ing predetermined to remain till daylight on deck. The * idlers ' had resumed their seats at the gun-room table; and sundry sage remarks were made upon the tenacity with which some people retained their own opinions. But upon I ^^^^Ff. THE CHASE. 41 these individuals no responsibility fell ; the whole pressed upon the shoulders of the * Executive- chief/ Not that he had assigned any ostensible reason for pursuing one course more than ano- ther; but his favorite and oft-repeated maxim of * letting well alone,' appeared, in the present instance, to determine the question. From the commencement of the chase up to the present period, the S had been kept upon the one tack. — The second * glass ' of the middle-watch had now, not been taken, but * turned ;' — that is to say, the first hour of that period had already expired; for our readers must understand that the lapse of time is most anomalously marked by sea-faring folk — ^two bells ' indicating as often one, as seven or nine of the clock. Nipper had now, as it is technically termed, * taken charge of the deck,' — Tarbucket from fatigue having thrown himself down upon the arm-chest abaft, not a little mortified at having so long lost sight of the chase. The seamen and j M !: i I ! 1^ ■'I i i I! J r i 42 THE CHASE. marines of the watch (no inconsiderable number of men), were now beneath the aft-deck huddled together in sound sleep.— All was silent, save the murmuring surge produced by the plunging mo- tion of the ship in her way through the water. Nipper who, for a considerable time had been seated on the fore-yard, scanning with his glass the western horizon, and who had fully expected to descry the chase crossing a-head in a lateral direction, had now descended on deck. — Pro- ceeding aft, he was met by the first-lieu- tenant, already aroused from his broken slum- ber. « I thought," said Nipper, «to have made her out ; but I fear we've kept too close a luff.* " " Day-light," said Tarbucket, " will decide the matter. — Has the Doctor yet turned in ?" a No, — he's reading in the gun-room." " The wind still decreases !" « Yes, — an hour since we'd a better breeze." 1 Too close to the wind. 1 jpL .,a.._^i 1 THE CHASE. 43 At this moment a sudden stentorian shout from the forecastle startled the ears of the officers abaft.—" Here she is, Sir,— running athawt our hawse under all sail !" " I knew itf— who's right now?" ejaculated the third-lieutenant.—" Rouse up the watch- quick.— Gunners, clear away the forectistle ' gun," continued the excited Nipper in a hurried tone, as he darted forward to superintend the pointing of the bow-chaser. The bustle occasioned by this unexpected event brought both the doctor and the master on deck. « How fortunate !" exclaimed the surgeon — " You see, master, had we taken i/our advice, we should have completely bungled the business." tt Well ! — only proves the fellow's a fool. Had he acted as / should have done, we shoukl never have seen him again." Oh ! — you're all very wise woif," interposed I «i I ) (( Forecastle is by seamen pronounced short— tlius, / THE CHASE. 53 i sympathize too fully with our brother blues to recal to their sensitive organs those discordant sounds which were now distracting the head of the captain. " Right your helm, quarter-master," cried Tarbucket, " I hate to see it jammed hard-down — Surely she should have steerage-way," he continued, at the same time adopting the boyish practice of throwing overboard pieces of paper to see if the ship passed them astern. " No, she's falling off right before the swell, and I see clearly," said the master, " we're in for a confirmed calm." " Well, be it so— at all events," returned Tar- bucket, " the head-sails are better down — and the courses up before we go to breakfast." As soon as *sail had been shortened,' and 'breakfast piped,' Tarbucket betook himself below to * swallow,' as he termed it, * a cup of scald.' — " Come, soldier," said he, entering the gun-room, and thumping at the ^ state-roowi door, as some of our trans-atlantic novelists D 3 III i 54 THE CHASE, ' WJ. IV i ■ft designate the confined six-feet-by-six * crib* of a lieutenant of marines—" Come, soldier, show a leg — Twist not brewed yet? — Here's a fellow been on deck for twenty-four hours, and you hav'n't yet as much as scalded the tea-pot." " Well, you may thank yourself for it — you roused me out for nothing in the middle of the night," returned Cheeks, who was then, as it happened to be Thursday, the appointed day for what men-of-warsmen term a * clean shirt and a shave,* tossing and re-tossing his exhausted wardrobe in anxious search of some substitute for a change of linen. Various are the precepts which philosophers of old have transmitted to posterity on that in- terminable theme the 'importance of time;' but it may be questioned whether a three month's cruize in a man-of-war would not more effectually demonstrate the value of that « stuff of which life is made,' than all the sage sayings and moral disquisitions which for centuries have been collected on the subject. — At the period of i / (I THE CHASE. 55 I 1 I '-4 our present narrative, time's inestimable worth was appreciated by all afloat; more especially in meeting at meals was its value acknowledged by the denizen of the deep.-It is true that according to the rigid rules of a military mess, the 'sutler waits for no one,' and with the stroke of the clock the bugle blast or beat of drum proclaims the * dinner served ;' but the preservation of this strict and inflexible punctu- ality is, in the twenty-four hours, alone confined to the one regimental meal.— In the barrack- room ' time' is seldom ' taken by the fore- lock \'— The Sub may sup where he can, and from the Colonel commanding, to the junior carrier of the colours, officers breakfast itVi(?/i they will, and « with what appetite they may.' But how differently were these matters for- merly managed afloat !— In the days of ' Dun- can, Nelson, Howe, and Jervis,' as Byron un- chronologically sings, the chronometrical errors » Query, Fire/w/c— Printer's Devil. d4 I il III II' ■i- . : Ih 56 THE CHASE. 1*^ 11 « of the * Horse-guards' might have been cor- rected by the breakfast, dinner, or supper-pipe of any ship in his majesty's service. The breakfast apparatus of the gun-room, ward-room, and midshipmen's tables, (including the black-jacks, mustard-pots, and the sun(hy substitutes for the 'demolished cups and sau- cers' to which the tenants of the cockpit and steerage were compelled to resort,) were placed precisely at the seventh bell > of the morn, and at the eighth, the caterer of each mess was at his post brewing the boiling beverage. Half an hour was the time allowed to the discussion of the ' scald.'— At the expiration of that period, whether at sea, in port, calm or gale, 'the traps' were promptly removed, and 'the decks' thoroughly cleared.' But the long duration of the present dull, ' sleepy, insensible' peace, and which we may well say with the great dramatic poet is only calculated to 'rust iron, increase tailors, and breed ballad makers,' has, it is ap- * Half-past seven, a.m. ^mm. ;i THE CHASE. 67 prehended, considerably turned the tables; for now be it with sorrow said, the prevailing pro- pensity to indulge in dandyism and effeminate luxury, is likely to undermine, and eventually destroy those two indispensible pillars of disci- pline — punctuality in time — and punctilio in place. Oh ! spirit of Cornwallis ! Oh ! shade of Col- lingwood ! will it be believed, that the once rough and ready * reefer* is now not unfre- quently seen lolling in an easy chair, reclining on the * mess-sofa *,* or heard, either disputing the merits of the renowned Reform bill, or discussing the relative rights of the two royal Belligerent Brothers, over a comfortable bottle of cool darit. But to our tale. — Whilst Tarbucket was ' bolt- ing' his breakfast, and whilst each individual of the gun-room mess was hurrying his toilet ni order to be in time for the morning meal, tlu' 'tween-decks of the frigate presented a scene of 1 We are not desirous to record the name of tlie line of battle ship in which we have seen this luxuriant piece of furnilurc. D 5 % I 68 THE CHASE. If I k i', S II what may be literally termed * warm-work.' — Imagine two hundred and sixty-six hungry * jacks' and greedy * jollies' enveloped in fume, and perspiring at every pore over the fattening fare of hot scalding cocoa. "Well, I dun know," said Tom Frost, the captain of the fore-top, commenting on a remark made by a more argumentative messmate, " you see he's right after all— mortal man couldn't a managed it better. — I likes a man who's a way an' will of his own — I never thinks much of a chap as listens to the plan and prate of every know-nothing feller as chooses to shove in his oar— I'll say that for « Tiny-Tom,' he can think for himself— and what's more too — think like a man.** And here the unprofessional reader is apprised of < Jack's' propensity to designate people by appellations totally opposite to their character- istics and personal appearance *. * Thus a tall tar is frequently designated 'Bob Short,' a lean one ' Fat Jack,' — a talkative topman, ' Dumb Dick.' I si A-^ ,' i^ THE CHASE, 59 « No, no," continued Frost—" big as lie is I'll back < Tiny-Tom' for brains against the best aboard." « Phill, I doesn't^ deny he never knows liis work — 'cause we all knows no fellow knows it better— but I'll say he's not the scholard— he hasn't the laming, and moreover hasn't the man- nerly manner of the second leaftennant— Every man to his likin', but give me Fred. Funnel afore 'em all. — As sure as the bell strikes four ' in the middle watch, he's always, always a throat- seizing * ready for the man at the weather-wheel. — ' There,' he says, fetching a fellow a friendly tap on the shoulder—* there ye are, my man,— take that,' he says, in a mild inviting voice— 'toss it off- it '11 never do you no harm. — Quarter-master, give him a bit o' biscuit,' he says ' I never likes to see a man drink without puttin' a morsel o' sommet in his mouth, if it's only 1 / » Naval anomaly — four bells — tiuo a. m. 2 A glass of grog. d6 i 60 THE CHASE. *^f!^i .4'} I f P I to quiet the worms' — He's the most winninest way wi' any gemmen I ever seed." " Ay, ay, Will," returned the captain of the fore top — " we all have our fancy-men — and moreover we all knows, there's not a bad-un aboard — for from the skipper down to the young- est reefer a better set of officers never sarved under the fly of a pennant." " I say, Phill, talkin' o' the skipper, does any one know how he is ?" " Yec, Ben Johnson says he's mortal bad. — He was deleterious the whole night long — an' talkin' out as the doctor called it, in the most cowherent possible manner." " I say, Phill, what d'ye think of this here calm ?" . " Think !^ — we'll have a spell of it. — And if Tiny Tom doesn't give us sommet to dOf he's never the man I takes him to be." "I doesn't know that, Phill. — It's another thing, the skipper well, and the skipper sick " / w If THE CHASE. 61 -T \ 3* 1 ' / / ,/ " Well, ive*ll see, — Come, there's call the watch." And here the colloquy was closed by the jiipe of the boatswain's-mate, summoning the watch on deck. I If ) i CHAPTER V. I -" My honour is at pawn ; And but by going, nothing con redeem it." Henry the Fourth. It was now a confirmed calm. — Not a cloud hung in the * roof of heaven.' The rays of the morning sun fell with languid sultriness on the bleached weather-worn canvass of the schooner in the south, whose head was directly pointed towards the stern of the frigate. The calm had produced on both vessels the effete we read of in the « Arabian Nights' Entertainments,' where 2 m u THE CHASE. GO pursuers and pursued are by magic transfixed in their respective positions With the exception of the two 'sail in sight,' and the occasional rise and dip of the black fin of a basking shark, nought was seen to disturb the surface of the undulating deep. The forenoon had passed apace— Tarbucket had Jigain taken up his favourite position, and was seen in close counsel with the second lieute- nant. Various are the modes by which the opinions and sentiments of tliC foremast-men upon import- ant points are revealed to the officers abaft. The tar possesses a tact peculiarly his own, and though he never * gives tongue' he employs a method of communication which seldom fails in effect. His marked manoeuvres, mute inuendoes, and significant gestures are all happy * hits,' and hints, which are at once ' seen, felt, and under- stood.' And it was at this particular period that ' Jack's' telegraphic tact was called into play.— t .■ i ' i ii 64 THE CHASE. f I \ t! *l l1 I 11 I ii The coxswains and bowmen ofthe different boats on the booms were seen, of their own accord, overhauling their respective gear, examining the pintles of the rudder — the boat-hook points, — tossing-up an oar here, — and eyeing a rullock there ; whilst the ^patroji* of the launch was ob- served to scratch his head in a discomfited mood upon discovering the carronade slide totally de- fective and unfit for use. The different boarders too, took each his cutlass from the stand, and with significant gesture, drew across his fore-linger the blunt edge, as he carried forward his weapon to re-grind the blade. " I say, Funnel," said Tarbucket, addressing his messmate in an under tone — " you see what the fellows are at ! — They see there's something in the wind — " "Very naturally — they all see the calm is likely to last. — And they all know there's only the one plan to be pursued." " My dear fellow," returned the first lieute- nant— " there are many things to think of." '» % ,, H %■: ^ji^' S) i THE CHASE. 65 '• I am aware of your peculiar position— tho great responsibility " « Responsibility !" interrupted Tarbueket, emphatically,-" my dear friend, the responsi- bility is 7iothing to what I feel for i/ou in the matter.— Were the captain equal to his duty, or even competent to be consulted, the command of the boats would undoubtedly devolve upon the first lieutenant. And you may now natu- rally suppose that his present incapacity alters the question " " Why certainly / — I — a " Expected— and I see expect the command of the boats.— But I cannot bring myself to al- low them to leave the ship at so great a distance, without being myself present to superintend the matter.-Mind me, Fred, I've every confidence in your zeal, activity, courage, and what's more material than all, your discretion ; but there's something tells me," continued Tarbueket, placing his huge hand upon his broad chest— 1 ™ ■I !i 66 THE CHASE. '* ( ^ I L 1 '' f H /i I » " something tells me here — that I must go, and ffo I will !" " Well, be it so. — I shall willingly waive, if 1 may so express it, my birth-right, or title to command the whole ; but, at all events, do let me accompany the boats." " Then we shall have Nipper, and the master too, equally anxious. — And i/ou know how ne- cessary it is that a man of judgment should re- main on board." " The master's judgment can never be ques- tioned." " No one disputes it. — And though he does give an occasional growl he's an excellent man in his station; but it's quite contrary to the practice of the service that the three lieutenants should be out of the ship at the same time." " I entreat you," exclaimed the importunate officer, in a tone sufficiently loud to attract the attention of the quarter-master, and man at the wheel, who were both observed to interchange fit THE CHASE. 67 significant glances — " I entreat you to allow me to go ! — I waive every other consideration ; but let me go !" " I wish, Fred, you were third lieutenant — but my mind's made up — you, and you alone, must remain to take charge of the ship. — I see so many reasons why you should not go, that I would rather give it up altogether than not leave you on board. There's no use to say more on the matter — my mind's made up." The two lieutenants now proceeded together aft, each remaining mute for several moments, wistfully looking at the schooner with their glasses resting on the taffrail. — Funnel was the first to break silence, " I don't think she's an armed vessel after all. — She looks more like the cut of an Isle of France runner. — Come, I'll go up in the mizen top and have a fair overhaul look at her hull." Tarbucket's eye followed the ascent of his messmate aloft. " Poor fellow," he muttered to himself — " he's very hot on it — but go he can't 68 THE CHASE. I ;l: ! ', — can't go.— Suppose," he continued, elevating- his voice — " suppose the captain got better and found all the officers away in the boats — sup- pose a breeze sprung up — a sudden fog to come on — or if by any chance the boats were to be se- parated from the ship, who then is to take charge of a watch ? much more charge of the barkey ? — It's all very well talking — Tom's seldom out in his reck'ning. Messenger — tell tlie three war- rant-officers — want them directly." The gunner, boatswain, and carpenter were already in the presence of their superior. " What's the matter with the launch's carro- nade slide ?" inquired the first lieutenant, addres- sing the carpenter. " It's decayed, Sir, — unfit for sarvus." " You should have reported it." " 'Twas never no use. Sir.— There's not enough wood in the ship to make anotiier. The two yard-arm pieces are both worked up — and- " " I give you one hour," interrupted Tar- I If ■) I y El. ^ ^v*" THE CHASE. 69 bucket hastily — "just one hour to turn out as ^ood a slide as ever came from gun-wharf." " I axes your pardon, Sir," interposed the gunner — "the gun itself is damaged — twouldn't be safe to fire her. — She was an old rusty honey- comb consarn when first we got her — I tried all 1 could when we was last at Plymouth to get her condemned, but the gemman at the gun-wharf gammoned me over — and " " Gammoned i/ou /—Come ! — Away with ye ! —Well ! must make the most of it.— Not that I * see much use in it. — At best, it's no more than a sort of .stand-by — a sort of save-all, in case people should ask particular questions." " Ye doesn't want me. Sir, does ye ?" said the boatswain, who still remained unobserved at the elbow of the soliloquizing lieutenant. " Yes, I do.-— How are we off for oars ?" " We've one set complete for every boat in the ship. Sir." " No more ?" " No, Sir." 70 THE CHASE. ! 1l t I w :\ " Never mind ! — make the most of it — that 'ill do. — Youngster, dive — tell Mister Cheeks want him directly. — Hulioa ! — what ! — seven bells ! and no one looking out for the sun ' ? — Send down to the master and all the young gentlemen to come on deck directly — all so full o* fight forget every thing else. — Boy, ask the cook if the ship's company's dinner .-eady — won't wait for twelve." " It's all ready, Sir," cried the boatswain's-raate of the watch, his heati .)eering just above the break of the quarter-deck as he stood on the second step of the gangway ladder with his call or pipe, already placed between his lips, antici- pating the intention of the first lieutenant. " Pipe to dinner. Mister Becket," said our fat friend, directing the boatswain to *send forth the glad tidings of a hearty meal.* * At half-past eleven the master and midshipmen arc gum - moned to attend on deck with their respective sextants and quadrants, for the purpose of observing the meridian altitude, and ascertaining the '« latitude in." a ■-IH THE CHASE. 71 A simultaneous burst accompanied the shrill tones of the boatswain's pipe ; but the recollec- tion of the captain's condition, which was now recalled to the excited seamen by the uplifted hand of the main-deck mate, pointing to the ^bin abaft, as suddenly suppressed the exhila- rating sounds heard in the vicinity of the cook's coppers. Funnel had now descended from the mizen- top. — " I don't know what to make of her," said he, addressing Tarbucket, who was then at the capstern « overhauling his watch bell.' — " She's certainly a very raskish looking craft, and un- doubtedly a deep-wa.{»ted vessel — I've been straining my eyes out endeavouring to trace any thing like the appearance of man upon deck." " How far do you reckon she's oif ?" " Between seven and eight miles." " I should say the same. — Think the people on board her could see us hoisting out the boats ?" " Why, if she's a rogue, you may depend on it she'll keep a watchful eye on us." I Nl 72 THE CHASE. S i ) ! If. it " When does the sun set ?" " Exactly at fifty-five minutes after six." ♦* The question now is, wliether we shall hoist the boats out immediately after the people have dined, or wait till the last moment ?" " Is it to be an affair of volunteers ?" ^^ " Partly— I think we shall leave the boats on the booms till all's ready." " I approve of the idea," returned Funnel — " because if the fellow detects us in an early stage hoisting out our boats " " He'd have the more time to prepare to re- ceiv e them." " Exactly." " And now, Fred, we agree upon every point but the owe." « That is " " That 1/ou remain — you shall have the black- and-white for it.— I shall leave you a regular written order. — In case of after-claps, it's as well to have something to show." «« I hope you will yet alter your mind." THE CHASE. 73 It F « You remain— so say no more.'' This terse and determined decision, nttered in so empliatic a tone, left Funnel no further hope.— He was not unacquainted witli Tar- bucket's tenacity of purpose— He »knew his man' —and moreover was not desirous to disturb tlie friendly feeling which had so long subsisted be- tween them. " It's twelve o'clock. Sir, by the sun," re- ported the master, saluting his superior, quadrant in hand, according to the usual practice of the service. " Make it so," returned the first lieutenant, who npon the present occasion, appeared little disposed to dispute the authority of Sol.—" And let me know," added he, directing his mandate to the mate of the watch — " the moment the people have had their time." Tarbucket had now descended the after-lad- der leading to the captain's cabin. — No sooner had the sentinel without opened for the lieute- nant the door of the afflicted commander's VOL. 1. E ■; > f. ■ 'I I I 74 THE CHASE. apartment, than the raised hand of * hanle aft— "Down off the booms — draw round — draw round," motioning to the moving mass to close round the capstern. The uncovered crowd arrived at a steady stand. " Now, my lads, before we take down a sin- gle name you must bear in mind that a certain number of the best hands," said Tarbucket, casting a significant glance at the second lieute- nant, " must remain on board to take charge of the ship." " Hope you'll allow me to go, Sir," inter- rupted Frost, the captain of the fore-to^, well u is ^ ^A THE CHASE. 77 aware, to use his own expression, he was * a bit of a far cy-man' with the first lieutenant. " Certainly, Frost. — The coxwains of all the boats are to go." " Thank ye. Sir," hastily cried the captain's coxswain. " With the exception of you, Johnson," con- tinued the lieutenant, nipping in the bud the self-congratulations of the captain's coxswain, — " your services are required on board." " The doctor says, Sir, Sal can sarve the cap- tain far better nor me." " I have no desire," said the surgeon, " that Johnson should remain on board — his wife makes an admirable nurse — indeed the captain could not possibly be placed in better hands." " You may go then," said Tarbucket, turn- ing to the captain's coxswain. There was now no end to the ' volunteer list :' nor was it the least difficult t'' ' that devolved on the first lieutenant to reconcile the excluded seamen. r. 3 ^ji ( I r i m ! 1 78 THE CHASE. J ■ i f i 1 ' < ; ; )■ »- i\ Ai " I always swore, Sir," cried Miller, the cap- tain of the main-top, in a tone of emphatic force, as he looked stedfastly in the face of the first lieutenant--" I always swore, Sir, that when- ever Mister Tarbucket went on a volunteer fray, Jem Miller would be found close in his wake." This species of appeal was not lost upon the ' Executive-chief/ " Swear did you say ?" ." Yes, Sir, an' moreover now ready to swear I sivore the same." " Well, well — mus'n't break your oath — Miller, you go in the barge with me." " Thank ye. Sir," returned the delighted seaman, as he flew forward to Frost on the forecastle to report progress — " I say, I told ye Pd do him. — / knows how to touch Tiny loin. The ship's company were now dismissed in consecutive order, and the boarders directed ' to be ready to muster at five bells.' \\ THE CHASE. 79 I- ;t Closing his watch-bill and retiring from the capstern, Tarbucket descended the quarter-deck ladder, closely followed by the youthful Rivers. « 1 hope, Sir, you will let me go.— I'm sure I've as much right to go as Drowsy Dick.— I was the first to make out the chase — and last night to discover the brig." « Fine fellow— capital boy— but you know we want all the (jood men on board," returned Tarbucket, patting the youth kindly on the shoulder. " First favour I ever asked, Sir." " Can't help it— favour's out of o' fashion now. —Go next time.— Come," continued the ' stout gentleman,' dismissing the disappointed boy— "come, must down and overhaul my scn-*:- nn-out ', and see that my pops are in proper order." Though the youngster had endeavoured to conceal his mortification by turning his back on !;iy 1 Lieutenant Tarbuckef s brief 4f*igiMm for his hanger. £4 Mi 80 THE CHASE. »:i :• ■'1 ill the sentinel posted at the cabin door, and look- ing out of the main-deck port abreast of the steerage-ladder, the boy's «sad unhelpful tear' was not unnoticed by the sympathising * soger^ who, by the by, happened to be the very indi- vidual on whom devolved the dusty duty of monthly pipe-claying the middy's pea-soup- stained waistcoats, and dingy weekly accounts '. " What's the matter. Mister Rivers ?" said the marine, in a kind tone of inquiry, as he gently touched the 'young gentleman' on the elbow. '• 'Twas the first favour I ever asked, and he refused me," returned the ambitious boy, while the big tear gathered in his eye. " Well, Sir, I'm never allowed to go neither. — In things of this sort, we must all take our reg'lar turn. — I likes a bit of sport as well as W * The square-while patch on the collar of the midshipman's loat. — We know not the origin of this seemingly inapplicable term. — It is worthy of remark, that whilst the facings of the uniform of every other officer has been altered to »\./, the middy still retains the old white ' weekly account.' I Tl — THE CHASE. 81 another — but a man-o'-war's a man-o'-vvar,— and men can't always have their own way.— Come, Sir, cheer up— it doesn't seem to me as you've had your dinner yet." " I don't want any dinner." « If Mr. Mitten was to see you, he'd have the laugh on ye." « He ! — drowsy Dick, indeed !— but never mind; though I didn't think Mr. Tarbucket would serve me so." The dialogue was now interrupted by the precipitate descent of Mister Cheeks down the quarter-deck ladder,— the sudden lurch of the ship luiving caused him to be very unceremo- niously ejected from aloft. That which the soothing philosophy of the private failed to accomplish, was effected in a trice by the marine officer's ludicrous tumble ' down by the lump,' and by the simultaneous cry of half-a-dozen voices from the fore part of the waist of ' call the butcher !' and ' pick up the pieces ;' for no sooner did the boy witness the accident, and II E 5 ^ 'i I III li i t 82 THE CHASE. hear the rude commentary always attendant on a like casualty on board a man-of-war, than his lamentations were quickly succeeded by shouts of laughter, so loud that the sentinel was com- pelled to call the * young gentleman' to his senses before the private could ' lend a hand' to lift as much as a leg of the ' commander of the party.' I I ■1 1 ! I CHAPTER VI. All was prepared— the fire, the sword, the men, To wield them in their terrible array. Byron. The time appointed for the inspection of arms, and all the other implements of war neces- sary on such an occasion, had now arrived, and the chosen band had already assembled in divisional order.— -Fore-and-aft extended on either side of the upper deck, was seen a long- line of armed and accoutred seamen, each sup- porting perpendicularly a 'muffled oar,' wliilst E 6 n J: MS «4 THE CHASE. i i ' 11 the eye of the looker-on was dazzled by tlie glare of bright blades glistening in the sun, as the cutlass was poised in a sloping j)osition over the right shoulder of each broad-backed, weather-beaten boarder. The marines were drawn up from the fore- castle apart from the long-tailed tars ; but as the Jirst lieutenant had given directions that the ' Royals were not to rig in red,' (though the martial appearance of the ' party' was by this change of costume lowered in the opinion of the sergeant of the ' squad' and commander of the corps) the ^Jollf/* attired in the tarry apparel of Jack, was all the better suited for his work. — Nor was this the first time on a similar occasion, that Lieutenant Tarbucket had taken the liberty to substitute another cut and colour for the regi- mental ' rig' and royal red of the sea-soldier '. 1 It is pretty generally admitted that the marine corps ought on every account, to be attired in the dark rifle uniform, ft lias been remarked by Captain M— y, a post ca))tain of some celebrity, that since our " unnatural alliance" witli the fleets of continental powers, the English line-of-battle-ship is only r'l THE CHASE. 85 " Mister Canister," said Tarbucket, return- ing aft from his round of inspection — " wiien the boats are hoisted out you stc properly placed in each, a blue light, and a lighted match, and match-tub." " Heady when you like. Sir." " Mister Becket," continued the first lieute- nant, next addressing the boatswain — "get from the gunner both the buoy grapnol-hooks." " I've never no more nor the one. Sir," in- terrupted the gunner. " Well, never mind — make the most of it — give it to the bowman of the barge, and see it spliced to a five-fathom line of inch-and-a-half." " I axes your pardon. Sir," said the boat- swain, "but I doesn't think 'twould be a bad plan if all the 'oat-hooks was fitted in a sim'lar fashion." " Right, have 'em so — And now," continued distinguished by the scarlet jacket of the mai .ne officer loung- ing out of the weather-quarft'r-gallery window. VUh' lo-^s of ships at Navarino. ^A'. ■> ^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 5« A 1.0 I.I Ii4 |2.8 :: 1^ III 2.0 2.5 2.2 1.8 1.25 1.4 11.6 « 6" ► ^^- ? Photographic Sciences Corporation '23 Wt'>' MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) B72-4S03 ^ 4r I r 1 1 1 1 ■ 1 86 THE CHASE. t II the first lieutenant in a distinct commanding tone — " now I hope every man fore-and-aft, clearly understands his station — for if he doesn't — now is his time to speak." Not a syllable was uttered in reply. " And I trust," resumed the lieutenant, " that the ship's company, knowing the suifer- ing state of their captain, will preserve as much silence as possible in hoisting out the boats. — Mr. Becket — Pipe down." The crew retired below. ** I never saw more orderly men," observed the third lieutenant, addressing his superior. — " They are a little impatient to be sure — but that's no more than natural." " Time enough — if she wasn't so far off — I'd take the night for it. — However — must make the most of it." Young Rivers was now seen on the booms, in close ' confab' with the bowman of the launch. — The only part of the conversation overheard was — 'T Ji^tH'HwiUi' y THE CHASE. 87 " What ! before she'b hoisted out?" . And the man's reply — " Sartinly, Sir — an' the only way as ye can manage the matter." « Rivers," cried Tarbucket, calling the boy from the booms — «* take my glass to the main- top, and have another look at the schooner.* « Come, youngster," said Funnel, « I shall accompany you." " Fine boy," said Tarbucket, in an under tone, turning to Nipper—" that fellow 'ill make a first-rate officer. — Come," he continued, " I must down and have another look at the captain. — I say. Peas," added he, addressing the purser, descending the ladder — " suppose you were to get your signal-lanterns in trim. — Mind, if there's any oil spilt on the deck, I'll give the steward a holy-stoning match for a month." Tarbucket had now entered the captain's cabin. — Sir S. had dropped off into a quiet slumber. The nurse was discovered by the bed- side of the patient in a somewhat melting mood. (' I I' H 88 THE CHASE. (( What's the matter with i/ou?"' said Tar- bucket, interrogating the weeping woman. , Without returning a reply, the coxswain's wife rose from her chair, and repaired to the after-cabin where the surgeon was reading seated on a sofa. « Doctor, what's the matter with this wo- man ?" again interrogated Tarbucket. " Nothing that I know of." " What then is she piping her eye about ?" " Ben, Sir," returned the afflicted female, sobbing syllabically, "Ben, Sir— was— quite- cross— with —me— 'cause— I ask'd him— stay — and keep — keep me company !" " Company !— Hav'n't you the doctor?" re- turned Tarbucket, good-humouredly — « best company in the ship— always a fancy-man wi' the women !" "For Heaven's sake," cried the doctor', "don't » The reader may be anxious to 'be made acquainted with the name of the surgeon-but on board men-of-war the name of the medical chief, like that of the master, is seldom sought. ' - yl THE CHASE. 89 wake the skipper," placing his fore-finger signi- ficantly on the bridge of his hooked nose — " at this juncture ten minutes of quiet sleep is worth more to him than any medicine that could be administered." Funnel and Rivers had both descended from the main-top, each to make his ' report' to the first lieutenant, now returned on the quarter- deck. " I cannot detect," said the second lieutenant, " any thing like a movement on board. — She's too far off — and the rolling motion of the ship prevents a steady look from aloft." "I can see nothing. Sir," said Rivers — "she's just the same as when I last saw her." " Never mind — know more about it before dark." " Talking of dark," said Funnel — " I think you have little time to lose — It's a long pull." The author was himself six months in a ship before he could remember the long name of the short Scotch doctor. icffst I ,1 ■i'"ii »»»mwww 90 THE CHASE. w I If l' I 1 I i I ■I " True — may as well out boats at once. Mr. Becket. — Hands-out boats. — jSilence ! fore-and- aft !" Each eager to have his own boat first * hooked- on,' the impatient seamen were seen on the booms scrambling for the grasp of the 'stay- tackle-blocks.* " The barge first," said Tarbucket, " and the launch last." The reader shall not be detained by a pro- fessional description of the heavy operation of hoisting-out boats from the booms of a vessel of war ; but here must be recorded the extraordi- nary fact, that six boats, with *all appliances and means to boot,' were seen in the water, manned and armed alongside of his Majesty's ship, in the short interval of ten minutes. Tarbucket, Nipper, and Cheeks, were still seen round the capstern on the quarter- deck. " Come, ' soffer,'* " said Tarbucket — " bun- dle in the launch, — I know you like plenty of ,L^ THE CHASE. 91 room to stretch your legs. — The barge is my boat." " And the pinnace mine," echoed the third lieutenant. «« Well, Funnel," said the first lieutenant, " we clearly understand each other ?" « Perfectly." "•' Should the boats not return before dark, don't forget the lights at the peak." " And should a breeze spring up, a blue-light will always indicate the position of the boats." " Well, God bless you, my boy," said Tar- bucket, crushing the hand of the second lieute- nant in his Herculean grasp.— Then turning to the master—" Come, old Growl-and-go— tip us your daddle.— Here, Physic— hand us your flip- per — take care of the captain — and now," con- cluded the cheerful ^JirsU' buckling the belt by which his sabre was suspended, " now I think we are all right." The pithy sayings, and pugnacious gesticula- tions interchanged between the excited boarders u i 92 THE CHASE, in the boats beneath and their disappointed mess- mates crowded in the fore-channels, the profes- sional reader can readily imagine. Save the barge awaiting alongside to receive the first lieutenant, the boats were all * lying-ofF on their oars,' on the larboard beam of the frigate. And now attired in a round jacket, a large broad-brimmed leathern hat, and a white piece of calico stitched round his left sleeve, the « stout gentleman* was seen to descend the ship's side. \ \^_^... jii CHAPTER VIL They fell as thick as harvests beneath hail, Grass before scythes, or corn below the sickle, Byron. h Our lady readers (and we hope to have such despite our nautical subject) have, doubtless, felt some sympathy with the sailor's wife, known by the soubriquet of 'handsome Sal,' and are perhaps anxious to be told of her last interview with her husband previously to his departing on the hazardous service on which he was engaged. But with every disposition to render justice to ( 94 THE CHASE. I) / the feelings of the fair, the departure of the boats precludes the possibility of describing the sketch of the aifectionate female now seated in the captain's cabin. We cannot stop the course of our tale further than to say that the long lin- gering look, and the silken signal waving from the stern-window, was unseen and unanswered by him for whom it was intended. After a two-hours' fatiguing * tug at the oar,' and the eager exertions of all to close with the 'rakish rogue,' the lighter and faster pulling boats had already decreased more than two- thirds of their distance,— leaving the gig, barge, and launch considerably astern. — The gig, which had been compelled to restrain her wonted speed, and which for the purpose of conveying a prompt message, had been specially stationed on the * quarter of the senior officer,' was now called alongside of the barge. — Tearing a blank leaf from his * watch-bill,' and pencilling on the paper a few hurried lines dated 'from the top of his hat,' and addressed to * Lieutenant Nipper,' \j i^^^ THE CHA3E. 95 Tarbucket despatched the < young gentleman,' aheady known by the flattering appellative of * drowsy Dick.' " How came I to put such a fellow as that in charge of a boat," said the < Executive-chief,* as soon as the bearer of his mandate was out of hearing—" sure to blunder a message.—Never mind — has it in black-and-white — can't miitake it." — Then turning to the coxswain of the barge — " Why ! how's this ?— I always thought your boat could beat the pinnace." " The boat's too much by the starn. Sir." A natural consequence when taken into con- sideration, that in addition to the sixteen-stone weight of the < stout gentleman,' six of the largest and heaviest of the foremast-men were seated abaft in the boat. The gig was not long in « overhauling' the })innace a-head, nor Mister Mitten, in deliver- ing to the third lieutenant his official despatch though it must be acknowledged that more time was lost in decipherhig than had been occupied I I \l ' I I, ■! h 1 96 THE CHASE. ill writing the commands of the senior of- icer. " Such a scratch / never saw. — However, I guess what he means. — Mister Mitten," said Nipper, " proceed a-head and direct the two cutters to remain on their oars till the sternmost boats come up — and tell them too, to be ready to take each other in tow. — Away with you — Though stop — stop a moment — What the deuce is this ?** he continued, holding the paper in his hand — " * Tell — the — pur — purser' — can't be purser — 'tell the p — ip— people* — d it — ' they — are — all to put — put' — this put — puts my pipe out — Oh ! I have it — ' put on their jackets' — Ay, ay ! — his old tune of a chill." The boats had already taken each other in tow, the larger and heavier taking the sternmost stations, and only awaiting to secure the * painter* of the launch now within a few fathoms of the barge. " HuUoa !" exclaimed Tarbucket, not a litUe surprised at the unexpected appearance of young THE CHASE. 97 Rivers, who had tried in vain to conceal his person under the portly lee of Lieutenant Cheeks, seated in the stern-sheets' of the launch — ** Hullo ! — I thought. Sir, I ordered you to re- main on board !" " I thought I might be wanted. Sir," returned the boy, touching his hat. " Well, — never mind — Forgive you this time — Make the most of it. — Gig there," cried the philosophic ^Jirst^ hailing the light-boat abreast of the barge — " Mister Mitten — change places with Mister Rivers. — And recollect, youngster," addressing the latter emphatically — " the gig is only to act as a despatch-^o^X. — The fellow's a regular fire-eater," muttered Tarbucket, re- suming his seat. The boarders were now desired to refresh themselves, as Tarbucket expressed it, * with a bite o' biscuit and a sip of six- water-swizzle.' No one knew better than Tarbucket how neces- sary it was occasionally to console the inward ' Stern-sheets — the after part of a boat. VOL. I. JF >- V i l! ^ 98 THE CHASE. man :— indeed he was often heard to expatiate upon the necessity of * wetting the mouth after weary work.* " Please, Sir, I axes your pardon," said Frost, the ship's company's favourite « spokes- man'—" but the people say, Sir, as they'd ra- ther do their work luithout their jackets— we thinks we shall be obligated to taKe to the buff." " Well, with all my heart— make the most of it,— but they must tuck up their shirt-sleeves," returned Tarbucket, perceiving that several had already adopted this distinctive mark— « and then there's no mistake '—And remember," added he, addressing the officer next in command— « the pinnace and the two cutters will board on the larboard side, and the launch and barge on the starboard— Mind! mustn't mince the matter — Run alongside at once !" > The reader may imagine he here detects a plagiarism.— But Lieutenant Tarbucket had employed this phrase long before it was brought into fashion— and • no mistake.' THE CHASE. 99 " That's the ^o," cried a voice in the pin- nace, « Tiny-Tom all over." " Of course," said Nipper, « you will tell us when we are to cast-oflf?" " Ay, ay,— ril look out for that.— And now," continued the animated leader, raising himself erect in the boat, and exhibiting to all a commanding presence—" and now, my lads, what say you with a will i—Now for it-^Strike- out together." A simultaneous cheer which made the welkin ring and which lasted for several seconds, suc- ceeded the emphatic words of the exciting lieutenant. Some twenty minutes had elapsed when Tar- bucket, who had been previously looking at the schooner with his glass, handed the instrument to the midshipman on his left, directing him to " see if he could discover any thing particular." " It appears to me. Sir," said the midship- man, still looking at the vessel—" it appears to me as if she had boarding-nettings traced up." F 2 (' 4. »f I 1 'I 1 1 100 THE CHASE. " To be sure, she has. — But never mind — make the most of it. — I say, Nipper," cried Tarbucket, hailing his brother-officer a-head — " I say, have your slashers ready — your toma- hawk-men at hand.— The fellow's got some bird-, cage work about his rigging." " Ay, I see," said the third lieutenant, who had also his glass at his eye — " we shall mince his meshes for him. — I can't discover a single port open." " Lord, they never can stand us !" said the coxswain of the barge, in a tone evidently in- tended to invite a reply from the first lieute- nant. " Who said they could ?" returned Tarbucket testily — « Hurrah ! my lads — hurrah ! — another rally.— Five minutes more and we cast-oiF." The time had barely expired before the boats were directed to ' cast-off,' and were seen to form in two divisions. The schooner whose head had been so long turned towards the fast closing boats, had now THE CHASE. 101 changed her position — the lighter canvass of her * head-sails,' having felt the influence of a partial * cat's-paw *j' was observed to darken the surface of the water in the vicinity of the vessel. The mode of coming to the assault was consequently- reversed — the boats having now to run on each quarter.^ instead of each bow. The assailing party were within half musket shot of the schooner, when displaying at her peak a large tri-coloured flag, the enemy's ves- sel was suddenly seen to open her ports. The discovery was made during a momentary pause of the boarders « on their oars,' to permit them to recover breath. What say ye, my lads — All in wind ?" Ay, and loilliriff too." " Now, remember all — Trust more to this^'' said the intrepid Tarbucket, his sabre raised in his right hand, and his left pointing to the (C (( M% * A light air, perceived by its effect on the water — but not durable. F 3 \ I I « ' li ti^ i^ 102 THE CHASS. blade—" trust more to this than to thejiash of fire — And now," added he, flourishing his huge hanger over his head—" here we go-^slap along- side !" « Hurra !" "Hurra!!" " Hurra ! ! !" The air yet vibrated with the closing cheer of the reeking boarders, when at the moment that the two crews of the leading boats relaxed the oar to wield the weapon, and that one and all had simultaneously risen to grapple with each quarter of the enemy's vessel, a shattering shower of grape, canister, broken bolts, rusty nails, and every description of destructive lan- gridge, flew forth from the depressed and well- pointed cannon of the formidable foe. The volumes of dense smoke which for several mo- ments accompanied both broadsides, hung like a canopy over the advancing boats and veiled from view the scene of slaughter that ensued. The heroic leader of the larboard line, who had ! THE CHASE. 103 r. usurped the place of the bowman, as if deter- mined to perish or have the first foot on the ene- my's deck, fell over the outer gunnel of the pinnace— disappearing on the instant, and leav- ing no mortal trace save the crimson stain which discoloured the bosom of the deep. — Singular to say, Tarbucket, though the largest and decidedly the most conspicuous object in both boats, alone escaped the fatal fire. " Follow fast— follow fast !" cried he, uncon- scious that none in the barge excepting his two favourites, Frost and Miller, were in a condition to raise an arm — for in scaling the side of an enemy's vessel, the boarder has little time to look behind. — Tarbucket, how- ever, soon effected a footing in the starboard channels of the schooner, and commenced with might and main hewing and hacking with his sharp sabre the close meshes of the netting that obstructed his advance. Frost, who had followed in the wake of his valorous leader, and who had also found a * landing' on the lieutenant'** F 4 li ii 1 1 r I ( ! ^ if f $ ! H 104 THE CHASE. left, suddenly descried a tall resolute looking Creole pointing with deliberate aim a pistol at tiie head of his officer.—- Without a word of warn- ing, but with a praiseworthy presence of mind, the seaman made a violent push at his superior, precipitating him flat on his back into the boat beneath.— The lieutenant's fall terminated the expiring agonies of the Main deck mate who had previously dropped, mortally wounded, in the stern sheets of the barge. The desolating contents of the schooner's guns had levelled the boarders in both lead- ing boats before the launch had had time to take her appointed station. " Never mind— dash up, my boys," cried the gallant Lieutenant of marines, animating his men on the sudden suggestion of the more expe- rienced coxswain to board on the taifrail. " You see. Sir, she's low abaft." " Hurrah ! lads— we'll heave ourselves over the taffrail." At the moment the boarders in the launch / " \ "fc -^ THF- CHASE. 105 were rallying to effect their purpose, the enemy, who had hitherto concealed his stern- chasers, unmasked his treacherous battery, defeating with fatal effect the daring intention of the lieutenant of marines. " The villains ! — Who could have thought that?'' exclaimed the exasperated officer, as he bent to raise the bleeding body of the sergeant, who had fallen at his feet. "Leave me — leave me !" groaned the sufferer. " Good heavens !" continued the marine lieutenant as he passed forward from thawt to thawt to bind the wounds of the several sufferers strewed in the boat — " Why, we've scarcely a man left !" " Here am I, Sir," cried the corporal. " Tliey've missed me," exclaimed a private. " And me too," echoed another. " There's four on us yet left," cried a blue jacket in the bow of the boat. The pitiable plight of the launch soon at- tracted the eye of young Rivers who had al- ill f5 / I iiff : ■in I \ i 106 THE CHASE. ready proceeded in the gig, to the succour of the crew. " Rivers, my boy," cried the officer of ma- rines— "jump in here, and give me the gig." " Come in. Sir," answered the boy— "but I must steer." " Well, be it so— but we must take these four," pointing to the small number left un- touched in the launch— "and dash off to support the barge." At this critical juncture a sharp volley from the stern ports of the privateer, prostrated the marine officer senseless in the stern sheets of the gig, and shattered to pieces the left arm of the brave boy seated abaft, as he held in his hands the lines of the yoke '. " Oh ! the beggars !— to slap that way at a bit of a boy !" exclaimed the boatswain.— " My eyes ! we never can stand that— what say ye, my sons?" continued he, cheering and ' The steering lines. ' T THE CHASE. 107 I leading forthwith the crews of each cutter to a desperate charge on the enemy's larboard side. The galling fire of musketry, together with the thrusting pikes from the enemy's port-holes, as the Frenchmen remained in ambush under cover of their deep-waisted bulwarks, repulsed the assault of the English assailants. " Never mind, boys — here's at her again ! — Now for it — hurrah ! — and board her on the bow." A second charge was effected. The first cutter grappled with the fore-chains. — The boatswain, tomahawk in hand, flung himself at the schooner's rigging. « Bravo, Ben! — That's yott— slash away — sever the ridge-rope and make a lane," cried Becket, perceiving the captain's coxswain had carved an aperture in the enemy's netting. — At this moment the coxswain in dividing the de- sired ridge-rope overbalanced himself by the force of the blow, and fell in board on the enemy's deck. " Hurrah, boys!— Ben 's made a lane!" cried F 6 U 108 THE CHASE. the boatswain, springing aft to follow John- son's supposed advantage. — In attempting a second spring his foot failed, and overboard toppled the brave Becket, between his own boat and the schooner's side. " It's never no use — they're too much for us !" exclaimed Becket, as he gained the gunnel of the cutter — " It's only murdering men to attempt more." The sun was sinking in the west, and a breed- ing breeze had already ruffled the surface of the waters in the south. The schooner's lofty can- vass caught the coming air, and the sharp vessel gradually 'gathering way,' slipped from be- tween, and dropped astern the disabled boats. " What officers are left?" asked Tarbucket, who had only now recovered the stunning effects of his fortunate fall. " Only me and Mister Mitten, Sir," an- swered the boatswain, who had already sought his superior, " Are we strong enough to make another rally?'' I THE CHASE. 109 t f '* Can't do it, Sir. Moreover, she's slipping away from us fast ." " Where's young Rivers ?" ,« .H«y Sir--his arm's knocked to atoms." " What ! the hoy's ?" ** Yes, Sir." " I'd rather have lost both my own." 1^1 f i 1 , CHAPTER VII. ! " It is an awful topic — but 'tis not My cue for any time to be terrific." Byron, After so direful a result to his expedition, it will easily be conceived that the feelings of Tarbucket must have been of a most overpower- ing nature. Harrowing, however, as they were, he still retained that sense of duty which even in the utmost extremity, while perception re- i THE CHASE. Ill ( inained* never for a moment left his mind. He was sufficiently collected to arrange his shattered flotilla, in which only a few men had escaped, to administer relief to the sufferers, and raise them, mutilated as they were, from the boats' respective spars. Before the boats had been taken in tow, the foremost of each stepped, and upon which a lug-sail was set, the dismal day had closed. " Does any one see the ship ?" inquired Tar- bucket, after running for a considerable time in line to leeward. " Not yet, Sir," replied Frost, steering the boat in his seated station. " Then burn a blue light." At this dark hour (for the moon, though high in heaven, was obscured by gathering clouds), and after the murderous catastrophe just described, the fulfilment of the commanding officer's order produced a peculiarly grim effect: the wounded and the dead were already ghastly enough, but wher the coloured flame gleamed 2 I I rw 112 THE CHASE. •■:i I III ri upon their contorted visages their appearance became doubly fearful and phantom-like. Save an occasional moan, all around was silent, solemn, drear; in the iU-fated boats lay the expiring and the departed— some writhing in hideous agony, and others fixed in the marble sleep of deatli; while each of these expressions was ex- aggerated under the seemingly preternatural illumination which brooded over them. The boat's signal was answered in a few minutes by the frigate burning a blue light to indicate her own position. " Ah ! there she is," exclaimed Tarbucket, « a long way to leeward. Poor Funnel ! he can have no notion of our distress ;-how unfor- tunate, too, that the doctor's mate should have boen token ill at the moment he was most wanted-fine plucky fellow too. Blow breezes, blow," continued the Lieutenant, unconsciously whistling to the wind, « I'd give all I'm worth . in the world could I get these poor fellows uboaru." / f mm THE CHASE. 113 " The breeze freshens fast, Sir," observed the coxswain. " Bad business. Frost," said Tarbucket. " Can't be helped. Sir," returned the cox- swain ; " mortal man cou'dn't a done more ; — hope. Sir, tiie heave in the boat didn't hurt you ; but if I hadn't a done it you'd a been » dead man. (( j> Poor Nipper !" — Not another syllable escaped the lieutenant's lips during the long hour the boats were nearing tlie frigate. At length, however, he gave directions for the gig to * cast off the tow,' and proceed to the ship, for the purpose of com- municating to Mr. Funnel the disastrous issue of the attack. Mister Mitten was already alongside in the gig. " Proceed to the ship," said the lieutenant, " as fast as possible — you see her, don't you?" Yes, Sir, I see her lights." Wei), then, tell Mister Funnel — but quietly mind — of our unfortunate fate; get as many cots a a r- U 'I .IK I* I m 114 THE CHASE. as possible slung, and every accommodation for tlie wounded— shove off." The light boat, under the influence of her large lug-sail, soon closed with the frigate.— At the moment of passing under the stern of the ship a female voice from the cabin-window was heard ejaculating, « Ben ! Ben !— Is Ben in the boat?" There was no reply. The gig luffed under the lee-quarter of the frigate, hove-to with her main-topsail to the mast— exhibiting two vertical lights at the peak and one at the bowsprit end. Funnel, for a considerable time before the boats had closed with the enemy's schooner, and until they were seen straggling astern, had planted himself in the main-top of the frigate in anxious suspense. As soon as he perceived the schooner slipping away with a gentle breeze, he descended the deck, convinced that the boats liad been repulsed, though he had not calculated the extent of the loss sustained. ) \ or 3r Lt le IS e ^ THE CHASE. 115 Mitten had now communicated his melancholy message ; — anxiety was depicted in every coun- tenance aboard. — Lighted lanterns were seen in every direction on the main-deck, and mess- mates were already taking from the nettings the hammocks of the absent men. The gig and jolly-boat had already been despatched with fresh hands to hasten alongside the disabled boats, and every preparation had been made to facilitate the transit of the wounded. As fast as the boats were cleared, the bodies of both dead and wounded were placed between the guns on the main deck, in order that the surgeon might examine them.— At this time the wife of the captain's coxswain, half frantic, was running fore and aft the waist, gazing at the different bodies, and wiping with her apron the gore from their faces, endeavouring to trace the features of her husband. — Poor creature! her's was a bootless scrutiny. Of the few survivors who were capable of even answering a question, none !i 116 THE CHASE. could afford her any tidings of « Ben.'—But at length, and when with bewildered air she again bent over the sufferers as they lay extended on the deck, the attention of the boatswain was drawn towards her. " What's the matter, Sal ?-Poor Ben's not here !" "Good God!" exclaimed the unhappy wo- man—" Dead or alive, I must see him." " He's not among us at all-He was the only man who got on board the enemy, and I saw him with my own eyes fall on the schooner's deck !" These words were no sooner uttered than, with a piercing scream, the bereaved wife sank senseless at the boatswain's feet, and regained her consciousness only to become a confirmed maniac. I I t N.B. Should any reader be anxious to know the destiny of tlie surviving personages in our melancholy tale, we have the jrratification to f i^ THE CHASE. 117 inform them, Lieut. Cheeks is now Lieut.-eoh)nel of marines, and the best dressed man seen at his Majesty's levees ; that young Rivers is now an old post captain, minus his left arm ; and tliat Tarbucket still remains on the lieutenants' list. The professional reader will be aware, that the foregoing fiction is unhappily not without more than one parallel in our Naval records. I !:■! |! J, i I; 1 1 I m i I IK !^ i ' St 1 I '' * !• iff' •iftqM STRICTURES ON SMOLLETT. . ii ), li ! ii ,1 : ,' » /): I 1 1' J ^»~SE~:-rVH' T STRICTURES ON SMOLLETT. J Of the few productions which have come under the title of ' Naval Novels,' Smollett has been said to be the originator; and, chronologically speaking, he is so. We cannot, however, agree in the dictum which attributes to him the highest excellence in nautical fiction ; and we shall en- VOL. I. G I r 1-22 STltlCTURES ON SMOLLETT. i| )l ' I ' 1 N deavour to show why it is that we differ from the verdict of the majority of critics who have estimated the genius of Smollett as a Naval Novelist. In other respects, no eulogy which has ever yet been paid by the warmest admirers of this great writer can, for one instant, be deemed extravagant. Our present business with Smollett is confined to those parts of his works which tend to exhibit to landsmen the nature of the goings-on at sea. Critics in all times have done more to mislead than to guide the multitude; never has the perverseness of the honourable craft been so triumphant as in <'hc false impression regarding sea-stories produced by them on the public mind. This is the more remarkable, as happening in a maritime nation which transcends all others in the power and extent of its navy, and wherein it might conse- quently be imagined that almost every landsman would have some knowledge of marine affairs. The reverse of this, however, is the fact. No people in the world know less of the matter. 2 STRICTURES ON SMOLLETT. 123 Englishmen, indeed, are fond of the subject, but they take no pains to qualify themselves to apply the test of truth to such < Tales of the Sea' as come before them: and yet we were told by Lord Halifax, one hundred and twenty-nine years ago, that " the first article of an English- man's political creed must be, that he believeth in the sea." Smollett, being the first writer (at least of novels) who attempted to delineate nautical life, critics and readers have been induced to take every thing uttered by him for gospel; and most unquestionably to him are the public indebted for many scenes afloat, which, being stamped by the hand of genius, are not likely soon to fade. Still it is not safe to rely implicitly on Smollett's representations; for though occasionally these are founded in a deep knowledge of the human heart, seconded by great skill in portraiture, his humour, generally speaking, is not so much that of a painter of real life as of a caricaturist ; and the propensity to add the outre to what is in itself G 2 W 'WJl 124 STRICTURES ON SMOLLETT. ;i i / ^ i I extravagant, tliou, I / 134 STRICTURES ON SMOLLETT. vf i i\ . i him afloat till he was hoisted on board by a tackle. " It would be tedious and disagreeable to de* scribe the fate of every miserable object that suffered by the inhumanity and ignorance of the captain and surgeon, who so wantonly sacrificed the lives of their fellow-creatures. Many ivere brought up in the height ofjevers, and rendered delirious by the injuries they received.in the way. Some gave up the ghost in the presence of their inspectors; and others, who were ordered to their duty, languished a few days at work among their fellows, and then departed without any cere- mony." That for too long a period it had been a prac- tice prevalent in the navy to muster the sick on deck, we readily admit ; but we unhesitatingly assert, that at no time of the service, even in the most tyrannical days, (and there is no denying that tliose of Smollett were certainly the worst,) could such a series of cool atrocities by any pos- sibility have been perpetrated ; the officers would ^ I u iUlt STRICTURES ON SMOLLETT, 135 have remonstrated, or the crew would have mu- tinied : flesh and blood, in short, could not have borne it, but would indignantly have asserted tlie rights of humanity, and forced the cowardly despot to * walk the plank.' ' There are times and sufferings under the pressure of which it is difficult to wait the tardy retribution of the law. But a mere violation of probability did not deter Smollett from indulging a desire to satirise the * Service,' which it has been often said he de- tested. This wilfulness of purpose breaks out indeed in all his works *. Whatever he seems inclined to say, he says plainly and recklessly. There are passages in all his novels, especially in Roderick Random, which no other than him- self, not even Fielding, would have dared to put forth. Talk of a * Family Shakspeare* indeed ! — we wish good Mr. Bowdler had directed his purifying operations to the works of our physi- cian ; for we know, and so does every one else, * Again in Roderick Random. 1 f i » I ' f [ i v3 I ■ t I > ' ! i V. Mi ! :ir I ir^ V -"v »-l^ ,^ V.^ .w^l, i^.,l^ . * '^^■y t!0 <^« I »■ »-^ t^j. = 1^ ill'/ : (I 'ii ill!' I !i I I 1 ^' I! l:)6 STRICTURES ON SMOLLLTT. that no books are more freely put into the hands of youth, by well-meaning persons too, than tin* works of the novelists. With reference to his propensity to caricature, it may not be superfluous to allude to the extra- vagant dress in which Smollett has thought pro- per to attire Captain Whiffle upon the occasion of his going on board to supersede Oakum in the command of his ship : — " A white hat, gar- nished with a red feather, adorned his head, from whence his hair flowed upon his shoulders in ringlets, tied behind with a ribbon. His coat, consisting of jomA-coloured sz7A, lined with white, by the elegance of the cut retired backward, as it were, to discover a white satin waistcoat, em- broidered with gold, unbuttoned at the upper part to display a brooch set with garnets, that glittered in the breast of his shirt, which was of the finest cambric, edged with right Mechlin : the knees of his crimson velvet breeches scarce descended so low as to meet his silk stockings, which rose without spot or wrinkle on his meagre ^ STniCTUIlES ON SMOLLETT. 137 le^s from shoes of blue maroquiii, studded with diamond buckles that flamed forth rivals to the sun ! A steel-hilted sword, inlaid with gold, nnd decked with a knot of ribbon which fell down in a rich tassel, equipped his side ; and an amber-headed cane hung dangling from his wrist. But the most remarkable parts of his fuijiiture were, a mask on his face, and white gloves on his hands, which did not seem to bo put on with an intention to be pulled off occa- sionally, but were fixed with a curious ring on the little finger of each hand." So that it was not, as the Frenchman says in the song, « on his ring he wore ^fingere,' but on his glove he wore a ring ; or, as Jack would say, he wore a ring * over all,' This is a dress which Smollett might indeed have seen among the fancy characters at a llanelagh masquerade, but which could not by any possibility have been exhibited on tlie quarter-deck of a man-of-war, however ridi- •J J . t ) I I l' t I, 9 ]: ' i 1 138 STRICTURES ON SMOLLETT. culous and contemptible the character of the wearer. It is true that in the days of Smollett, Jack himself was rather * rumly rigged.* A little low cocked-hat, a * pea-jacket' (a sort of cumbrous Dutch-cut coat), a pair of * petticoat trowsers' not much unlike a Highland kilt, tight stock- ings with pinchbeck buckles in his shoes, consti- tuted his amphibious * fit-out ;' he had no tail ; but, excepting this useful deprivation, no cos- tume could be less adapted for a seaman's work. Fancy a man in this attire at the mast-hear' sending down a to'-gallant-yard, or hauling-oui a weather-earing in a close-reef topsail breeze. — The tar of Trafalgar was another guess sort of fellow — his jacket was short and succinct, and though his tail, half-mast down his back, brought him up now and then with a round-turn, he had no useless coat-skirts to be caught in the sheeve of a block, — an accident by which his prede- cessor in the days of Benbow not unfrequently /» STniCTURES ON SMOLLETT. 131) lost what lie called his « precious limbs.' Ler him only be taut about the stern, and our Tni- falfrarian (for Jack, out of a horror of any thinj^ military, despises suspenders) cares not how loose his trowsers may be from fork to foot. We have spoken freely of what has struck us to be defects in the naval portion of Smollett's comic romances. We must not omit however to allude to the very masterly sketch of Commo- dore Trunnion. Having ventured to object to certain passages as unworthy <.f the general skill of the writer, let us specify some of those which manifest his genuine vein of comedy. In this way nothing can be better than the out-bursting of Trunnion's feelings on hear- ing that one of his juniors had been made a peer of the realm. The speech is too good for quotation ; but it is perfect in its way, whe- ther considered as a manifestation of profes- sional pique, or as illustrative of the weakness of the human heart. By the way it is worthy of notice, that when the scene is afloat, as in Ro- 1(1 I ,1 1 It! i4 ■I ' \ : 1 0' t; t 140 STRICTURES ON SMOLLETT. (lerick Random^ Smollett's style and feelings seem to partake of the uncomfortable state of things inseparable we fear from a life at sea, especially as regards the junior officers, among whom the doctor's experience was gained. His pen therefore seems to have been dipped in gall and bilge-water. Nothing short of satirising and abusing the Service will content him ; but when his naval heroes are settled comfortably in shore- retirement, as in Peregrine PicUe, the spleen of ;he writer vanishes ; all is jocose and kindly on his part, and, for the life of him, he cannot deli- neate any worse traits in his seamen than those which may be safely said to come under the head of amiable eccentricities. f ( I ^ / I NOTES FOR NAVAL MAXIMS. (Found in the Pocket-book of a Post Captain.) No. I. In national disputes. — Parleys to be courted and protocols increased ; — both to be considered as signa's ^preparatory to battle. Mem. — Paper pellets formidable weapons of war — thirty-two pounders pacific pills. 1'^ t ! n i V. )i n\ r; i> u 142 NOTES FOR NAVAL MAXIMS. No. II. Neutral treaties. — To be shunned as sunken danger%>. No. III. Ill Parliament. — On nautical topics observe a passive and dignified silence. — The discussion of naval affairs and maritime matters to be left solely to landsmen. No. IV. In Totcn. — If a member of a club, blackball all candidates of reputed abilities. N. B. * Long- headed fellows, all the jaw to themselves.* Mum. — Not that talent is always contagious. No. V. Ditto. — Should * employment' be sought, an- nounce appointment in a morning ministerial paper, and contradict same in an evening oppo- NOTES FOR NAVAL MAXIMS. 143 sition print. Mum.— Comments, claims, long services, neglected merit. No. VI. In Society. — When conversing with ladies, in- terlard your discourse with a double allowance of technical terms ; — this will denote your pro- fession, and confirm the fact of your « having been to sea to learn manners." Mem. — An oc- casional < Damme' may not be amiss— oaths in- dicate manliness, and carry weight vvitl' the women. No. VII. Li command. — Should you be a flai»--ufficer, neglect not to favour the fleet with a ceaseless succession of signals, monotonous movements, new circulars, and old orders. In the concoc- tion of official papers, verbose ambiguity to be studiously sought. ikfMm.— Flag pass for a long- headed fellow. isi / , I ■H 1 I III i if f ji t I 144 NOTES FOR NAVAL MAXIMS. No. VIII. To avoid the appearance of official 8':iffness or dulness at dinner, relax in the recital of an oc- casional ^joeJ N.B. — Lest joke be lost, or wit unseen, secretary to roar aloud and force a laugh. No. IX. If a captain — fix the officers' dinner hour as the prudent period to retire on shore or return to the ship. N.B. — By distiu-bing comfort of inferiors, increase your own consequence and lessen their's. No. X. In the performance of evolutionary duties, patronize noise, and blink at bellowing. Mum. — Proves that * the people' are not tongue-tied, and each has a * voice^ afloat. No. XL Standing orders to exceed a thousand. Muju. NOTES FOR NAVAL MAXIMS. 145 — The more multitudinous the less contradic- tory. No. XII. Should intelligence be sought by signal, com- municate through the medium of 'vocabulary code.' Mem. — Keep superior in suspense and self in good temper. No. XIII. Sailing orders to be kept secret. Mum. — Mystification adds to importance and commands respect. ■i ■ No. XIV. In sickness. — Blue pills and black doses. — Leaf torn. VOL. I- n fi i V V »■ it: !fe JACK'S ECCENTRICITIES. A DISTINCTION WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE. The parsimonious habits of a late distinguished admiral have frequently afforded subject for merriment afloat. The story of 'poor piggy must die/ is well known in the navy, and may here serve to identify the name of the departed cliief. In ' taking care of number one,' Sir John was h2 Mi ;• f^ >l\ 148 jack's eccentricities. unique; and in the practice of domestic economy Lady E herself might not have despised the veteran's tuition. Wlierever he was employed as port-admiral, a portion of the flag-ship's crew was daily de- spatched with the dawn to milk the cows, ' start the pigs ',' and stuff the turkeys. The bravest on board were converted into cow-herds; and there was hardly a boy on the * books' who had not undertaken the duty of a dog; or who had not, at some period of the day, * looked sheep- UW in watching the admiral's flock. Sentinels selected from the after-guard and waist had to keep the cows in clover, and a * bright look-out' that bipeds did not trample on the grass, or in any way permit the cattle to be disturbed at their meals. ' The late surgeon Wadd observes, in his Comments on Cor- pulency and Leanness, that " among the most singular proposi- tions for fattening the person that our inquiries have fur- nished us with, that oi flagellation is the most whimsical." In the Artificial Changeling we read, that the Magones were wont to adopt this practice, to make their bodies more fat for sale. jack's eccentricities. 149 It once happened that an Irish waister had been personally directed by the admiral to en- force his commands, * that no person whatever should walk upon the grass, and that nothing but cows should be seen upon the lawn.* A lady in full feather approached the sentinel on the sward. " Keep off there !" cried Pat— « keep off!" « Pray, Sir," exclaimed the mortified dame, " Pray do you know who / am ?" " Saurra-know," rejoined Pat. " Not know me. Sir ?" " The divil a-know." " Not the admiral's wife, Sir ?" " Not /—all I know is, you're not one of the admiral's cows /" GOOD PILOTAGE. Nothing is more amusing than the alacrity of Irishmen in getting into scrapes, and the happy naivete and blunders by means of which thov endeavour to extricate themselves. H .3 ] m v: I' I ul 15a jack's eccentricities. A captain of a man-of-war, newly appointed to a ship on the Irish station, took the precau- tion in < beating out' of harbour, to apprize the pilot that he was totally unacquainted with the coast, and therefore he must rely entirely on the pilot's local knowledge for the safety of the ship. " You are perfectly sure, pilot," said the cap- tain, « you are well acquainted with the coast ?" " Do I know my own name. Sir ?" " Well, mind, I warn you not to approach too near the shore." " Now, make yoursel' asy. Sir : in troth you may go to bed if you plase.'* " Then shall we stand on?" " Why,— what else wou'd we do ?" " Yes, but there may be hidden dangers which you know nothing about." " Dangers?— I like to see dangers dar hide themselves from Mick. Sure, don't I tell you I know every rock on the coast?" (here the ship stri/ccsj—" and that's one of 'em !" JACK S ECCENTniCITlES. 1,51 JACK A PUNSTER. i Anxious to avoid a recurrence of the many riotous scenes, and, too often, distressing disjus- ters which, upon a former occasion, took place at our several sea-port towns, government took the praiseworthy precaution, upon paying-ort* ships at the commencement of the present peace, to provide vessels for the purpose of conveying our seamen, free of expense, to the sea-ports nearest their respective homes. However consi- derate this arrangement might be, it was hy no means relished by Jack, inasmuch as it was felt to be a controul over his purse and person, which in peace time, he was not prepared to expect. At most ports, the measure was unpopular ; but in the ' river* it was received with increased dissatisfaction. The seamen paid off from the ships at Deptford and Woolwich, were taught to believe by the publicans, slop-sellers, and other disinterested supporters of the * constitidion,' that II 4 *■ !iT jm I ,»( !i :1> % tA H r t 111 152 JACK S ECCENTllICITIES. the act, to say the least of it, was an infringe- ment upon the liberty of the subject. The ship's company of the L e were advised by the * liberals' of Woolwich * to enter their protest against so illegal a proceeding ;' and a fore-top- man of the name of Toms, who upon all occa- sions was ready to * argufy the topic' was de- puted to appeal to the first lieutenant in their favour. In the usual roundabout way, Toms thus opened the proceedings : — " I axes your pardon. Sir, but the ship's company desires me to say, they doesn't like this here business at all." " What business?" asked the lieutenant. " Why this here cramming us in craft, for all the world like new-prest men in a tender." " Well, my man, it's the admiral's order." " Yes, Sir ; but when the admiral strikes his flag, hes never refused liberty to land ; and now the pennant's down, he's never no right to stop our leave, and prevent us spending our money like men !" JACK S ECCENTRICITIES. 153 1 / 1 " It's too late now," returned the lieutenant, " nor can the order be now recalled even by Sir Home Popham himself." " I tells you what it is. Sir, — I don't know what the admiral can call or recall, but I knows this, instead of calling him Sir Home Popham, they ought to call him Sir Pop 'em Home /" TOO MUCH OF ONE THING. Upon the return of the Temeraire into Ha- moaze after the ever-memorable battle of Tra- falgar, (in which brilliant affair, be it observed, no ship took a more conspicuous part,) two of the seamen obtained (as it is technically termed ) * leave to go ashore on liberty.' — The day hap- pened to be Sunday, and as the * liberty-men' were landed during the performance of divine service, when all the public-houses, not except- ing the * Two Jolly Tars,' were closed to their best customers, — the Jacks, to their great dis- comfiture, found there was more of a ' stopper H 5 If iif'i mmm il . i ri 1^ III ,i I'n lb fl' ^ fi '■ ('^ '1 il 111 154 jack's eccentricities. ciapt upon their liberty than they had bargained for on leaving the barkey.' Their object, how- ever, was to kill time, and, as they had nothing else for it, one of the tars, who was in every sense of the word a more curious fellow than his companion, proposed ' bearing-up for the nearest cliurch,' in order to ascertain * the difference 'twixt the rigging and palaver of a methody parson, and the togs and talk of a reg'lar-built battle-ship preacher.* With this view the Jacks ' put into a methody chapel* in the vicinity of the little village of Stoke. The parson had commenced his sermon, and mentioned, as he proceeded in his discourse, the words ' glorious victory,* on wliich the pro- jector of this reconnoitring trip, whose head was full of the Temeraire and the battle of Trafalgar, observed to his shipmate, " Hark, Jem ! there's the Victory" The preacher, like many of his ranting, brethren, was often at a stand for ideas, and was compelled to iterate one word many times JACK S ECCENTRICITIES. 1.^5 to fill up the interval during which he was waiting for fresh supplies of thought—The word ^mctony was therefore pronounced a second time—" Hollo, Jem ! tally there again," said the tar in a somewhat more audible tone. Not long after, tlie extemporaneous * expounder of the Gospel,' still hard-up for language, eja-. culated the word « victon/ a third time, when the irritated tar, again addressing Ids equally mortified messmate, audibly exclaimed, « my eyes, Jem, if I can stand it any longer !— There's three times, because, you see, she haj)- pened to be the>y-ship, that that there black- looking, blarneying beggar has lugged in th(^ Victory, and never, no, not as much as once, touched on the saucy Temeraire—We, as was in the hottest part o' the business, and took two ships to our own cheek !— Come along out o' this— cut and run.— I always told you these here straight-haired chaps was a parcel o' lyi:,g lubbers." n 6 K 156 JACK S ECCENTRICITIES. !' • \ TAKING IT EASY. On the morning after the mutiny broke out on board the T e, in Beerhaven, upon the peace of Amiens, but which, by the intrepidity and firmness of Rear- Admiral Campbell and his officers, was quickly suppressed, the ship's com- pany of the Vengeance (74), who had for some days been in secret and seditious intercourse with the crew of the former, were seen before the time usually allowed for breakfast had ex- l)ired * coming aft in a body.* The lieutenant and two midshipmen of the watch were tlie only officers at the time upon deck ; the rest were at breakfast below ; but when the captain, who was reading in his cabin, perceived the men crowding en masse on the quarter-deck, he quietly arose from his seat, and, with book in hand and head uncovered, came out upon deck, and coolly in- quired their ' business.' " Why, Sir," said the captain of the fore- castle, who acted on the occasion as spokesman, jack's eccentricities. 157 " we liears as how the ship's ordered abroad- the West Ingees, they say-and the ship's com- pany wishes to know whether it's true, or no more nor a galley-packet ; for you see, Sir, in time o' peace, they doesn't altogether look upon it as a fair matter 'twixt man and man, to be sent out o' the land." " Ton my word," replied the captain, « this is the first intimation I've had of the matter- but all I know is this, whether East or West Indies, wherever I'm ordered, I go; and where- ever I go, you go /—Come, come— down below- down, my lads, your cocoa's cooling," good hu- mouredly added the undaunted Duff, returning into his cabin, without once looking beiiind to see if the ship's company had dispersed and followed his advice. Pleased with the manly candour of their cap- tain, the tars retired with a murmur. The conduct of both captain and crew was duly appreciated by the Lords of the Admiralty for, though subsequently sent to the West Indies, mmmm ''m 158 jack's eccentricities. the ship was not disgraced, as others of tlie squadron were, by having a ringleader hung at her fore-yard-arm, on the day when, by the sen- tence of a court martial, six out of sixteen of the T e's misguided and mutinous crew at Spit- head forfeited their lives in the face of the fle(?t. The well-known anecdote * told of the late Admiral Cornwallis, when in command of the Canada (74), might, in addition to the fore- going, be adduced to prove that in cases of pre- meditated mutiny, a good-humoured coolness, an Hi ! t * The Canada's ship's company addressed a ' round-robin' to their comaiander, wherein they declared, to a man, that they would not fire a gun till they were paid. — Captain Cornwallis, on the receipt of the letter, ' turned the hands up,' and tlius laconically harangued th ;m. — " My lads, the ship will be paid when we return to port; and, as to your not fighting, I only hope we may fall-in with the largest first-rate out of France — for I'm positive the devil himself could not Iceep you from tearing her to pieces!" — The Jacks were so tickled with this tar-like compliment, that they one and all returned to their duty, perfectly satisfied with themselves and their captain. JACK S ECCENTRICITIES. 159 ! ' ' apparent sang-froid of manner, will sometimes do more with Jack than all the marines under arms with ball and bayonet : — the one, naturally acting on and humouring the buoyant spirit of the tar, stifles sedition; his fancy being tickled, he forgets his grievances, whether imaginary or real, and his better feelings imperceptibly predominate ; whilst the other method only tends to confirm mutinous thoughts, and leads, if not at once to open rupture, to a continuance of sour and dis- satisfied feelings not easily allayed ;— for, though an officer should be always prepared to meet any disaster, mutiny should be the last thing he should show his ship's company he expected. ( u\ \\ f 'I ! RMMM I I. I Ik ii NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS, BY WHICH COLOURS MAY BE WHOLLY DISPENSED WITH. ffl in ,! i 1^1' K^ i Hi I ... I ¥ P ri 1 t Is " > NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS, BY WUICll COLOURS MAY BE WHOLLY DISPENSED WITH K ' Important as this medium of communication has been ever considered to a maritime power, it is singular how little of the science of Signals — for such it may justly be called — is really un- derstood in the navy, 'i'his remark may, at the 'ill By Rear -Admiral Raper. — Reviewed. 'i ii k '^ 164 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. I . I ! ,1* f r I outset, stfufcle the professional reader, who, per- haps, will pronounce it a gratuitous assumption; but we rather imagine, the observations whicli appear in the work before us, together with those we have ourselves to offer on the subject, will not tend to strengthen the too prevalent opinion that hitherto Naval Signals have arrived at any degree of perfection — nor can we lend our assent to the recorded assurance of a profes- sional writer, that, -i their " progressive im- provement, they have advanced at a rapid rate." We fearlessly assert the reverse, and therefore it is, that we shall ever regret when impediments are thrown in the path of their progress. At the close of the American war they were comparatively useless; for, through their me- dium, it was as difficult to command as to com- municate. At that period, Vice-Adm. Kem- penfeldt undertook their revision ; but, notwith- standing the various improvements introduced by that indefatigable officer, still tlie system was common place, and wretchedly defective. -<- --JV-' -\/-t. .J A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 165 I The code of signals introduced in 1 79.3 was the first in which flairs had been made the repre- sentatives of figures.— Number one was a red flag; two, white with a blue rectiuigular cross; three, blue-white-blue, vertically ; four, yellow, with a narrow black border at top and bottom ; >v', quartered red-and-white ; and so on in nu- merical order. Capable as these numbers were of extensive combination, it is a positive fact, that the highest number expressive of purport in the flag-code of 179:3 was only 184. There was also a separate code for the use of 'private ships.' This was called the « tabular code;* and a more unmean- ing medium of communication was never con- ceived. In 1799 the ' general code' underwent ano- ther alteration ; ' private ships' were furnished with flags, and each captain was entrusted with a copy of the Admiralty code. As the war ad- vanced, it became necessary to increase the ' general code.' Significations (nor were they 111 "^T ■J i ' II 160 A NEW SYSTE3I OF SIGNALS. altogether of a local nature) were constantly added by the different commanders on different stations. This created confusion ; the blanks filled up by Cornwallis were unknown to Nel- son ; and a * stranger from the Straits' ran con- siderable risk of being a * stranger' in reality to the signals of the Channel Chief. The fact is, we may say with the poet, we but " Lisp'cl in numbers," until the work of our great lexicographer wiis pressed into the service, and promoted to a tele- graph-book. This was in 1 803 ; and since which period, from the unfortunate circumstance of each captain finding more ivords than men at command, an alarming loquacity has prevailed afloat. But to be serious. The Johnsonian system — or rather be it called the Popham-code ' — was * It would appear by the following note in Gower's " Theory and Practice of Seamanship" that Sir Home Popham was not the original inventor of the telegraph code. " This mode," i A NEW SYSTK.M OF SIGNALS. 1G7 not miattciuled witli evil ; nay, it was constantly » abused. The * general signals' were deserted for the Telegraph-book, whicli, if fortunate enough to have escaped being plundered by the pirates ' on the poop, was sure to be made the medium of indiscriminate, and, too often, indis- i i' j says Mr. Cower, " of communicating significations, and t-vtn a complete language, is the invention of the author, and was* first published in the second edition of his • Seamanship' in IjyO. Having quitted the sea service since the year 1802, the author was not aware that a telegraph of this kind has been introduced into the navy, under the patronage of Government, until accidentally explaining his invention to a naval frii nd, and setting forth the advantages to be derived by secret in- formation, he was informed, to his astonishment, that the thing was already done, by the recent introduction of Sir Home Pop- ham's telegraph signals. The author himself cannot for an instant suppose, that Sir Home Popham would take merit for the invention of another ; but as thought is the prerogative of man, the thoughts of Sir Home may run, by chance, parallel with the thoughts of the author. At the same time it must be observed, that had the author possessed sufficient influence to have introduced his telegraph signals previous to the introduc- tion of Sir Home's,— Sir Home's would have remained dor- mant, and the author would have reaped whatever merit is attached to them."— Third edition of Gower's " Seamanship" p. 208. » Chaplain, marine officers, and midshipmen. i i f 1 It I Il ^r^-'^^^pr— T— *■ i ^11 I , i • 11 I if. ■ ■' 1. 1 188 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. creet communication. Private prattle and public orders were together seen flying in the face of the fleet ; and as it was but natural a ' sharper look-out' should be kept on the one than the other, curiosity sometimes succeeded in defeat- ing discipline and delaying duty. This irregularity partly proceeded from the admitted inefficacy of the general signals. The orders of an admiral should emanate entirely from the Admiralty code ; and the system, in- deed, must be sadly defective, if the movements and manoeuvres of a fleet cannot, all, be directed through its medium. The * Telegraph' should be resorted to as seldom as possible. One num- ber is sooner answered than fifty. Brevity is as much the soul of business, as of wit: conse- quently, the sooner an order is conveyed, the sooner it can be carried into effect. Imperfect as was the code of 1799, it lived out the war and part of the peace. In 1816 it was ' returned into store,' and superseded by Popham's complicated code. Sir Home's signals ■1 ip \ I A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. ]G9 were 'reported' as applicable to all purposes afloat; and no small boon was bestowed on the inventor. But notwithstanding the report and the premium, experience pronounced them im- perfect. The signals before us are the production of an officer, who has long devoted his talents to the science:— they appear to be founded on a system peculiarly his own— at once clt-ar-sio-htcd and clever— embracing considerations, and j)ro- viding for contingencies, too long overlooked in our Admiralty codes. Comparing them with Popham's, we find diar Admiral Raper employs twenty-three symbols less than his late competitor. This in itself is gaining a point of no mean importance, inasmuch as a multiplicity of flags leads to obscunh/, in more senses than one. In a short but pithy « explanation' of his sys- tem, Admiral R. makes the following just ob- servation : VOL. I. J I » f ' A\ I I' 170 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. '! I " The inefficiency of the colours of signals being universally admitted, it seems surprising that they should so long have continued to be the only distinction, particularly when it is con- sidered that the flags and pendants, by their respective positions, present tn^ most perfect distinction that can be found ; for it is evident that a flag over a pendant cannot, under any circumstance, be mistaken for a flag under a pendant, while the symbols themselves are dis- cernible. This, then," adds our author, " is the principle of the system." But to explain it more fully : By the manner in which the Admiral has classi- fied his code, the leading subject of the signal is announced by a specific combination of symbols; a due consideration being given to the character and importance of the purport. For instance — ' Signals by ships in chase,'' are made by a flag over a pendant. How much better this, than a long flight of flags partly concealed by your f M A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 171 canvass aloft *— or if not so hoisted, separated in halves at each mast-head. Again, < Signals to ships in chase,' by a flag under a pendant. In like manner, ' danger and distress' are instantly recognized by symbolic combinations peculiarly striking. Hence it is obvious, so long as a flag can be distinguished from a pendant, combinations can- not possibly be mistaken for each other. Class I. " Contains the signals for Tacking, Wearing, and others of the most frequent occur- rences under sail." — These come under the head of < Signals hy the AdmirrJ or Senior officer: — " The combination which distinguishes this class is two flags," and wliich, says Admiral Raper, " is selected for its convenience in blow- ing weather."— So far so good,— nothing can Ik' better. » ■ I H t (II n 1 Ships in chase have been often corWf»i»l]efl to clew-iip ^fi^}^ royals and top-galiant sails, so as to afford a lul/ view of their flags; when, perhaps, it was of as umhimnmn tR ' carry sail' as to communicate to the admiral. I 2 i i'.*' i: li 1^ Ma ¥ii m I 172 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. Class II. — Is, in some measure, a continua- tion of Class I. and ** contains the remainder of the signals for general purposes, which are of less importance than the preceding" — "The com- bination," (we quote the Admiral,) "is composed of three flags: — the numbers begin with No. 101, and continue to No. 500 — this number be- ing more than sufficient for every purpose that can be required of them." For the latter reason we suggest the propriety of never employing numbers that require to be expressed by substitute symbols ; for example — 11, 22, 222,-33, 333,-44, 444, &c. &c.— It is true in 500 numbers more than one hundred are lost; hut Jour will be found sufficient for every possible purpose ; and if not, it would be better to add a hundred, or even tico more, than employ either of the two substitutes, in 'signals made by the admiral.' Besides, they are not only diiferently shaped from the numeral flags, but one, the ^rst substitute we find, is assigned to the combination belonging to the ' Compass yl A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 173 signals '.* We mai/ be wrong ; but we never- theless throw out the suggestion. Colours may not be perceptible ; still, by our author's system, so long as the comhination con- tinues conspicuous, the class, or subject of the signal, is decided; and nothing remains to be ascertained but the number immediately per- taining to the purport*. This is effected by means of the distant signal, of which we shall presently spoak. ' An oversight of no small importance appears in this por- tion of the present Admiralty code. The numcrint! flags arc employed to indicate the points of the compass. A pendant over number /I'e indicates N.E.B.E. A danger is suddenly discovered. The ship that discovers it, desires to apprize lier consort of its immediate ' bearing.' But this aimouncemcnt cannot be effected. The flag number Jive, is employed to express the previous purport, ' Danger tM the direction pointed out by compass signal.' Consequently, as private ships have only o7ie set of flags, the most important part of the purport oi' the signal, is necessarily reserved for a second operation. Tlie ship is ashore before the compass signal can be made. — That is to say if young <>flficcrs be ignorant (and many undoubtedly are »o) of tiw precAti4tfmary practice of ' heaving about' on the instant the gttifral \i\vtyti'(* of danger lie answered. 2 In other words, the/'/cw under which a signal is displaycil declares \\\g class or subject to wliich it refers. I 3 n \ ■ Tf 1 III 174 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS- ^ 1 I Hitherto purports of the first consequence were not infrequently preceded or followed by one of comparative unimportance. — * Ship standing into danger,* preceded perhaps — ' Ship*s company has time to dine,* — a signal possibly suggested by some sympathizing member of the * Victualling Board,* who, doubtless, considered it a sin to con- sign Jack to ' Davy Jones' upon an empty stomach. Incalculable mischief may result from signals so totally regardless of classification. — For ex- ample, — Suppose that some four leagues to lee- ward of a fleet, a frigate is seen with three flags flying at the main — the number of the signal 343 — the purport ' Sprung a leak, and in icaut of assistance — tlio* not of immediate* — Well — the flags 3 and 4 are with difficulty made out by the nearest ' repeater.' — At length in the lower flag tKo mere colours of blue and white become, at times, barely distinguishable. — Though differ- ently disposed, both these colours will be found in number two as well as number three. — Gra- tuitous assumptions are started — conjecture is I s 1 ilp A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 175 put to the push. — " It can't," say the officers of the ' repeater,' " be three-four-three, for that signifies, * Ship has sprung a leak ;' and no guns are fired indicative of distress. — It must," they continue — " be three-four-^!«o, — ' Enemy the same when last reconnoitered. ' " — This settles the matter — all doubt is dispelled — the signal is probably repeated — the stranger no longer is an object of interest — she passes for one of the ' Inshore Squadron.^' a fog suddenly envelopes the fleet, and the unfortunate frigate is left to her fate. Admiral llaper has guarded against mistakes of this nature; and particular attention ap- pears to have been paid in the application of opposite combinations to opjiosite purports : for instance, ' Danger, steer to starboard,^ '^^J^^ff ^o- 6. — ' Danger, steer to Port,* is pendant No. 6. In Sir Home Popham's late code, signals of importance were neither, as respects symbolic combination, nor classification of purport, con- trasted. But on the contrary, such signals were I 4 1 i4\ (1 If , n 176 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. ill H I not only made to follow each other in juxta- position, but to resemble each other in form— the lower flag being the only guide to mark the difference of purport. For example, ' Can come up with the chase without parting co.'-S-l-D. * Can not come up with the chase without parting co.'— 3—1— ^. * Bottom under 20 fathoms,'— 2— 5—6. «No bottom to be got,'-2-5-7. « In condition to renew the action,'- 1_2-C. ' Notin condition to renew the action,'-! -2_Z). * Ship is in shoal water'_2-6-D. * Ship is on >.,'-2-6^ i^. As if so close the affinity between the two elementary dangers, that the difference could only be marked by a solitary letter. Besides, a 'ship in shoal-water' may have to haul her wind- on fire, it may be necessary to put her before it. But at all events, in no instance should a ne^a^ the purport follow an affirmative signal. Indeed, before now, we have known the sig- nal-man of the fleet all at sea upon the subject of Orthography. Some, like Matthews's singer, ^W-WP" iM'i — ••'^l^^i^ ^fmrnm* A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 177 had ' lost their G;' others had found an F, whil?,t the majority, to prove their title, (for of course, according to Sir H., they were all men of let- ters,) were constantly exclaiming with Hamlet — 'To be or 7iot to be:' and in their own 'sea of troubles,' equally perplexed with the Prince, to ' decide the question.' Not that the Tars were quite so distracted as the Dane ; for Men-of-warsmen are not permitted to be mad; moreover, mock-madness is cured with the cat. But to ' mind our course.' "No flags or pendants," says the Admiral, "are admitted into this system, but such as serve for numeral purposes. The flags and pendants hi- therto used, such as ' Interrogative' — ' Prepara- tive,' — ' Numeral,'—' Telegraph,' — ' Orthogra- phical,' &c., are wholly dispensed with ; these respective significations, being provided for in a different manner, as is shown in their proper places." 1 5 i; ' ' 'i I ) ^J M ism ' a f - '".-(T.'u. -.i^SWWlffW 178 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. H \\ ! I Speaking of the inutility of the ' Interroga- tive,' he observes — " As certain combinations are assigned to the exchisive use of the Admiral, if a ship in the fleet employs any one of them in his presence, with or without her own distinguishing pendants, it becomes at once interrogative; and the same argument applies to the signals assigned to the use of the ships of the fleet when employed by the Admiral. Thus, for example,— the signal which signifies—* I can come up with the chase, without parting company,' when addressed by the Admiral to a ship in chase, demands of the chaser whether he can come up with the chase without parting company: by this means, the whole of the signals are rendered interrogative without employing an additional symbol; and thus interrogation, when colours fail, which has never before been practicable, is expressed by the distant signals with the same facility as any other communications." imm mmmmtm^mmmm mmmmmmmtmsssi A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 179 The above named pendants we should have long since * condemned as unfit for service ;* — and only that the surgeons of the navy have always objected to bunting bandages, we shouhl have slit them into regular lengths, and con- signed them to Hasliiar. With respect to the * preparative,' we caimot altogether assent to the total rejection of that flag. On this subject says the Admiral — " The frequent and unnecessary employment of a preparative flag having made it a matter of doubt when the signal itself was to be hauled down, in this plan the hauling down of the sig- nal directs the execution of it; as in fact it always has do. - when it was not accompanied by the preparative flag. — I'here are few services requiring preparation which have not already specific signals assigned to them,- such as ' pre- pare for action' — < prepare to anchor,' &c. ; and therefore when an operation, not provided for in this manner, is to be executed, pre})aration for that }oirpose will be intimated by hoisting a ship's I 6 J I ,.. Ill I m iilfj 1 It S l;1 .L »•'* ^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. M 1.0 iSKSI 1.1 1.25 IS m It •4 2.0 1.8 1.4 111111.6 V] <^ /a ^> r^^ V /A iio Photographi Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 ^. ^< V 180 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 11 1.' ti ■L i' k (■ ': pendent ^ under the signal, to denote that it is then shown only preparatory." Here we differ from the Admiral. -^In the first place a ship's pendant, even of the widest description — the * regular dock-yard-cut' — is much too narrow to be sec at a distance ; and, in the second, — in the event of a calm, too ' long and lazy' to be extended by a * stretcher.' We therefore suggest to the Admiral the propriety of employing the cypher flag to mark a prepa- rative purport not previously provided for in the general code. By this arrangement the uniformity of his system would not be disturbed, nor an additional symbol added to the code. Nor need there be any doubt on the subject of * directing the execution of the signal.' If the interval be distant, ere the execution of the signal be required, repeating; it as heretofore, without the preparative, would answer every ' The lengthy pendant, worn by men-of-war at the mast- )iead, to distinguish them from merchantmen. ^ A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 181 possible purpose. And if the time of action be immediate, < dipping,' the preparative might serve as a caution ere marking the moment of exe- cution by hauling down the * general number.' These are not hypercriticisms : we can assure the Rear-Admiral our remar^.8 are offered as friendly suggestions. " Some useful signals," says the Admiral, in the explanation of his system, « may probably have been omitted, and other imperfections may be discovered by the professional reader, more attention having been bestowed on perfecting the system itself than on minor arrangements of the signal book, which would have undergone revision had it been adopted." And the Admiral might have added that had his code been put to the test of practical proof, improvements, as to both the cut and colour of his flags, would probably have suggested themselves. But so far as relates to the < system itself,' we have little hesitation in asserting, it comes nearer to perfection than any we have ever yet seen. ''• \ r*?'7'««w"fifip«! 182 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. r il i It is simple, well conceived, and well digested ; and works its owfi way out of every apparent perplexity. There is nothing left to chance, and few objections can be started which are not met by considerations, evincing considerable forethought and professional precaution. The Admiral, and we shall follow his example, reminds the reader that — ** Care has been taken to adopt the most simple and conspicuous combinations to the most important subjects: for this reason the sinr/le flags and pendants are each assigned to com- munications of the most consequence." This distinction (so vjiluable on every consi- deration) was sacrificed sadly in Popham's sig- nals — and why? — Merely to allow the tele- graphic code to begin with flag number fotir. Had all the combinations of ttvo symbols been assigned to the * general signals' only, more than half of those numbers which had been expressed by three, (and many were of sufficient import- ance to have demanded a distinction so material) A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 183 would have been expressed by only two. Nor was the telegraph book free from similar defects, for all the combinations relating to * board,* * chase,* * bearing and distance,' * enemy,* * in- telligence,' * reconnoitre,' * reinforce,* * sound,* * stranger,* &c., which are certainly the most im- portant subjects on which the telegraph can be possibly employed, were expressed by three symbols, while eleven numbers by tioo symbols only were appropriated to the word * ahle* Many of the * telegraph signals* were repeated from the * general code.* Thus, not only coun- teracting the precision, and distinction so desira- ble to attain, by making the same signals in a certain determinate manner ; but multiplying pur- ports to an enormous and unnecessary degree. Five and/brti/ changes were rung on the verb *do.* Such grammatical niceties are not re- quired in the tarrish tongue. Nor yet in com- munications by telegraph, where simple words (or at most combinations of the negative and ' ii 184 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. II k'Kn 1) f I certain prepositions) are sufficient for every purpose required. Besides, they are not only (Superfluous, but detrimental, because such cri- tical delicacies create delay, and in business of bunting, — *time should be taken by the fore- lock.* Thirty-five numbers were assigned to the word * if^ of which many were expressed by two symbols only ; thirty to the word * have,' twenty- two to «it,* < should,' < The addition of so many flags and pendants, has not only destroyed the simplicity of the numeral method, but causes great delay and confusion in selecting them as they are wanted for use, when the deck is covered witli them." This absurd, and indeed we may add, expen- sive superfluity of flags and pendants, owes its origin solely to the unnecessary amalgamation of letters and numbers. Telegraphing by Popham's code, we have seen as much bunting strewed upon the deck of a ten-gun brig, as would nearly suffice to dress a three-decker for a Royal visit. Letters and numbers lay mingled together; B, blushing for the blunders of C, and C trampled under foot for usurping the place of Fouj\ The scene was one of fun and confusion — captain cursing the code — lieute- nants averring it harder to work than a lunar--* and the master d g it for regular algebra. The algebraic system, as it may be desig- nated, the Admiral properly rejects; and by num- A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 187 bers alone produces, without availing himself of the elaborate auxiliaries of the code lately in use, a work infinitely more copious*, and incom- parably superior in point of efficiency. The following combinations are assigned to his telegraph : " A pendant combined with two flags; and a flag combined with two pendants." These combinations admit of six different forms, each form representing ten pages in the code; for example, the combination of a pendant over two flags, expresses all purports contained between page 1 and 10: two flags over a pen- dant, page 21 to 30, and so on, varying in form » By a supplementary system of four symbols (for the ad- miral, except in this case, employs no more than three) 40,000 numbers are obtained; a number nearly four times as exten- siveas Sir H. P.'s system of telegraph and general signal to- gether.— " Accordingly," as the Admiral observes, "by a signal for this purpose, any dictionary, vocabulary, or other book of reference whatever, may be employed. And it may be re- marked that the above combinations are not more complicated than many of the chasing signals in the late code, when used interrogatively." ( J t I 188 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. ''5 1 \J' I I, l,J \ i i 1 1: i ! 1 tlirough the six symbolic combinations. Hence, by this plan six thousand numbers are produced, and which, as the admiral observes, " are fully adequate to express all communications of a professional or political nature." The utility of assigning to each division of pages a specific combination is obvious, because, should colours be invisible, the distant signal not only repeats the paffe, bu*- the number of the purport : the one thereby acting as a check upon the other. In Popham's code no specific combination was assigned to the telegraph. The only guide was the number of the upper symbol ; consequently when colours were invisible, no possible notion could be formed of the purport or importance of the signal. By the Admiral's system, so long as the combination is distinct, (we are unavoidably compelled to repeat the remark,) the class or subject of the signal is decided ; for though the gloom of the atmosphere may render the colours composing the combination of a signal totally A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 180 a indistinct, yet so long as the latter presents a clear outline,— a palpable form, the difficulty of communication is at once overcome. Hence, should a pendant between two flags be descried, without reference whatever to colour, the class is instantly known to pertain to the telegraph ; and should doubt exist in the identification of the number, it is at once removed oy having re- course to those admirable and truly original aux- iliaries — THE DISTANT SIGNALS. On this important branch of the Admiral's code, he observes, that — " It is shown in the general view, that when colours are not visible, the combinations become more perfect as Distant Signals than any that have yet appeared, because they ijoint out, in the clearest manner, the subject of every signal as soon as a flag can be distinguished from a pendant; and, therefore, its number only re- \ 190 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. it I mains to be denoted by the Distant Signals. This peculiar quality arises out of the principle here employed, and renders the Distant Signals available for every point of service, with a cer- tainty and expedition which have never, till now, been obtained; while those lately in use, could express no more than two hundred and fifty-six signals by a process so complicated, and liable to mistake, that they were rarely, if ever, resorted to with success." Few in the profession will attempt to refute these remarks. For two-and-thirty years * under the fly of a pendant,' we never had recourse to the Distant Signals. We have known what it is to be bored with bunting — we have had our eyes so tired and tortured in * squinting at signals* in the sun, that we have shed more tears in a * watch,' than a watery-widow would shed in a week. Colours at sun-set, sun-rise, and at times in an easterly wind, assume as many hues as a dying dolphin. Red has * looked blue,* like ourselves; blue — white; and * white no colour at all.' 2- A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 191 I3erge > was invariably beaten, and if we saw not double with Dollaiid, he played us the part of the pirate. What would we not have given for a patent stentor, or a forty horse-power trumpet that would have borne our words against wind, tide, glare, and gloom, and thus roared in the ear of the stranger " We see not what you mean." Another source of embarrassment attending the employment of the distant signals, was this: the signal which denoted « the Distant Signals will be used,* vas distinguished by its colours only— under the very circumstances which de- clared colours themselves to be invisible. An oversight like this was not likely to have escaped the notice of the author of the Code before us, in which the same communication is conveyed by a ball, unaided by a hull To bring before the mind of the reader the me- chanism of the system, we extract the illustrative examplegiven in the Admiral's "General View :"— * The celebrated optician. ■A I \ 'a- M< 192 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. ,1 fi' il 1 ' (i Fig. 2. 3 ' A ship charged with im- portant intelligence, on first Fig. l. seeing the fleet, shows her number (932) on the list of the navy, as in fig. 1. The ship nearest to her, being too far off to distinguish co- lours, sees the signal as it is represented by fig. 2 ; and, FJg- 3. 9 V 3 ~"^ on referring to the Signal ^^ Table, finds it is a * ship's -J number.' Instead, .then, of waiting till the colours become visible — a delay which has hitherto been wholly unavoidable — she immediately hoists a ball ; on seeing which, the stranger hauls down her signal, and repre- sents the number of it by the Distant Signals, as in fig. 3 ; and then proceeds to telegraph her intelligence with the same facility with which she made herself known." This example supersedes the necessity of fur- ther description or comment. We could have T J.'. A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 193 wished, however, the Admiral had made liis graphic illustrations a little more « ship- shape.' Speaking of < ships' numbers,' we are not alto- gether satisfied that the Admiral has selected the best form of combination assigned to that pur- pose. A ship-of-war should write her name in Capital letters, or, at all events, « make her mark' in a manner sufficiently masculine to prevent the possibility of its being mistaken for the crow quill hand of a boarding-school miss: three pendants border too much upon this: they may answer very well for the Yarborough yachts— but for ' Men-of-war' we prefer a striking character, that at once says, with the song, " My name you see's Tom Tough." But this is of minor import ; for, without disturbing materially his « General View," the Admiral could easily substitute another com- bination (which indeed appears a specific for all complaints in his system.) Besides, his dis- ( it VOL. I. K ■V ■■*' ■I* 194 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. , [ tant signals can be always resorted to in cases of defect of vision. On the Tactical part of the work we cannot now enter into critical detail ; suffice it to say, that whilst Admiral Raper has exercised a sound discretion in rejecting all the obsolete and unnecessary illustrative movements with which former codes were wont to be encumbered, he has introduced essential evolutions hitherto to- tally untouched. We allude in particular to the ' interchange of stations by squadrons' — a ma- noeuvre of a widely different nature from that of the interchange of single ships. It is true, (at least as far as relates to the mere mandatory part of the purport,) a signal to that effect has hitherto appeared in our Admiralty codes, — but the mode of executing the manoeuvre was in no instance ever pointed out. The manner, also, in which the Admiral restores the * order of sailing' on the wind shifting forward, appears to partake of novelty, and is deserving of attention as well on account of its simplicity as of its A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS, 195 tactical precision. And we are satisfied the pro- fession at large will duly appreciate the following observations upon the propriety of placing the Commander-in-chief on the weather-beam of the fleet. " It is most probable, that the position which the Admiral has hitherto taken, namely, that of leading the weather-division of the fleet, has occasioned tacking and wearing all the ships to- gether to be so little practised; because by these movements he became the sternmost ship of his own division. In the first and third evolutions he is therefore placed abreast of the centre ship of the weather division, where his repeating fri- gate has hitherto been stationed. In this posi- tion, the fleet, however numerous, is more under his immediate observation, and he is also better seen by the ships in general : and whether he is abreast of the centre ship of the weather division on one tack, or on her weather bow on the other; his signals will always be sooner circulated, both by day and night, particularly those by blue u K "2 T i i 196 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. li<^hts, wliicli may, in cases of necessity, be suffi- ciently effective without repetition, and thus hasten the operation where expedition mig-ht be necessary. " In foggy weather also this is the most favourable position for his signal guns being heard. " The commanders of squadrons are to be in the centres of their respective divisions. " This is, perhaps, a fit occasion to notice what must have been observed by every officer conversant with fleets, n.'imely, the advantages of performing movements altogether, in prefer- ence to performing them in succession '. In the ' Such movements are not only more convenient and expe- ditious, but are likewise, especially in bad weather, much safer than when they are executed by the ships in succession. When movements are performed together, all the ships are under the same circumstances at the same moment, and hence the rela- tive distances are liable to be only slightly disturbed. In Rear-Admiral Ekins's Naval Battles, an anonymous cor- respondent observes on Admiral Cornwallis's novel manoeuvre of wearing, "The signal being made by the Commander-in- chief for wearing, the second astern shortened all sail and ' manoeuvred,' (a strange application, by-the-bye, of the term .a A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. 107 IS »e it former case, the danger so likely to occur from ships crossing each other in the night, is wholly when a ship is stationary,) " sons to admit the Admiral to pass ahead of him ; all sail was then made by the second astern until he had wore and gained his station astern of the Admiral. The same operation was continued in succession through the line." To say nothing yf the danger likely to occur from the head- most shii)s heaving-to first, especially at night, the distances of the ships from each other are by this mode of proceeding entirely thrown out. In the first instance, they are unavoid- ably compelled to shorten sail in order to give their respective leaders room to come round ; and in the next, to carry perhaps a press of sail to gain t!ieir stations on the opposite tack. Those officers who have served under Cornwallis, Gardiner, Cotton, and others, will remember that the interval between the first making of the signals, and the completion of the ma- noeuvre by the sternmost ships, occupied sometimes a period of four hours ! During the whole of this time, it was neces- sary to keep the "watch," and, if the weather was bad, " all hands" upon deck, consequently at night, it was exceedingly harassing to the crews of the fleet. On the contrary, by per- forming this movement simultaneously, the whole fleet could be brought round on the other tack in less than ten mwuh's, with very little loss of ground, and no unnecessary wear and tear of His Majesty's stores. Although these considerations would seem definitive in fa- vour of the latter mode, yet such was the predilection for anti- quated systems, that this method was only at a late period of the war adopted by our commanders of fleets. Nor must the greater degree of tactical experience which the officers of tlie fleet derive by performing operations together be overlooked. k3 : 198 A NEW SYSTEM OF SIGNALS. Ij prevented ; and they are besides performed with so much more expedition, that a fleet which would require an hour and a half to tack or wear in succession, would perform that movement all together in a quarter of an hour. Thus, at the relief of the watch, the time generally preferred for these operations, during the night the ser- vice may be executed by two watches, if neces- sary, without breaking in upon the repose of the crews." To conclude. — Of the merits or demerits of our author's work, we shall no further speak. — Let the reader judge of both from our criticism and illustrative extracts. In our opinion, (and we feel it professionally at stake,) Admiral Raper has produced the best code of signals yet known to the Navy. When the fleet in the order of sailing by the wind, tacks toge- ther, the ships which were before ahead and astern of each other respectively, are now thrown on a bow and quarter line, that is, on the line of bearing. In this position, it is much more difficult to preserve order ; and the skill of the officers is consequently more called into action. th ir II e i DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. k4 •■ DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. THE MARCH-O'-MIND ; OR, INTELLECT AFLOAT. ( Scene— A Group around the Galley of a Frigate.) " Well! I'm blest if /knows: but I knows M/*— there's no great meanin' in a matter as has to be back'd by length o' /arwm'.— Rest my word on it, it's no more nor a muddy matter— there's never no seein' the bottom o' the bus'ness.— Morever, a meanin's a meanin, and, limore's k5 202 DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. i; meant, why then, — it's a regular-built double deceiver, and mischiefs sure, — sure to be upper- most !" " In course, Jim," responded a talkative top- man; and here the reader is informed that pru- •^ential motives suggest the necessity of sup- pressing the Sir-names of all the leading interlo- cutors of the galley group. — In times like these, the Black-List is felt to be a ticklish thing ; and no one knows it better than Jack, " In course, Jim — in course, bo ! — a straight- for'ard manly meanin' 'ill stand alone — stand the tug o' truth, as stiff as a steeple — But look here, Jim — look here, bo ! — a lawyer's lip 'oud turn, ay, turn six-water-grog into mother's milk — once ship the coachman's wig — once clap on his clar- gyman's gow^n, and then, (that's if he sees you're afeard to face him,) then, stand clear of his well- paid prate. — Take him in trim, close-haul'd on his best pint, — wrongin\ you know, a regular right, therii see how he'll work to wind'ard o' truth — fore-reach 'upon reason, and creep, aye. \ INTELLECT AFLOAT. 203 ir- 1- )- »- creep, for all the world, like a Mugian clipper, in the very wind's-eye of the longest law—" " Right, Bob-right, bo !" interrupted a restless auditor, impatient to support his ship- mate's assertion-" and see how he'll pick and pilfer the sense out o' every strand— throw it aside out o' sight-work-up unwillin' words into reg'lar junk, and clinch the whole consarn by convartin' strong sense, and stronger proof, into rascally twicelaid or rotten rumbolin'— " " Well done, Bill !-go it. Bob !" bellowed a bye-stander, rubbing his hands with delight— " Why, the pair on ye seems to sarve 'em out !" " Sarve 'em out !— not half as much as the fellors desarve.-We knows 'em well-doesn't we. Bob ?— 'Twas never for nothin' we comed across their hawse." " You may say that, Bill^We'd enough of their saucy sneerin' %-Long as I can sup my swizzle, I'll never, no, never forget that infarnal rascally trial — " ' * In allusion to a trial at Newcastle. k6 fi 204 DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. " Bob," interrupted Bill, " Bob, d' ye •mem- bers the little sliort-arm'd, bandy-legg'd beggar wi' the grizzly wig — the chr wi' the copper- colour'd phiz, — or to come more nearer the mark, wi' the brass breakin' out thro' his greasy mug ?" " Remember him ! — do I remember * Bil- liiisgate Bet?' But, see here, — and, I doesn't care where I says it, — they're the sauciest set, ( I doesn't say all — for it must be a precious bad trade as hasn't itsgood as well as its bad) — but 1 says your Old Bailey birds, and the likes o* they, are the sauciest sneerin' set, — the biggest bul- lies, and the most barefaced fellows as ever larnt, — larnt the trade o' tormentin* man. — Look at one on 'em" — continued the Cicero of the circle, waxing warm in debate, — "one on 'em,swearin'in an opposite witness — watch his mug, an you'll see, ay, as clear as the livin* light, the mischief bre win' in his bitter brain. — See how he'll fasten his fer- rit eye on a poor unprotected petticoat, — a for- lorn helpless girl, half terrified out of her life, an ready to fall in a faint at the dirty doubt the INTELLECT AFLOAT. 205 fellow contrives to throw i„ his overhaul lurkinj^ look— Watch-when the clerk claps the Bible, the book of God, into her trembling hand, J watch then his double-faced phiz, when he hears her told (and perl.aps himself repeats the same) to swear to the truth, the whole truth, and no- thin' but the truth, at the very identical time the fellow's intent on confusin' the cretur,— takin' lier aback-, capsizing her credit, and causin' the poor innocent soul to trip on the truth in spite of herself-I, once, could 'ave shied my shoe " " Hilloal-hilloa! my hearty;" interrupted a tall, brawny, muscular forecastle-man, catch- ing the excited orator in the very act of suiting the action to the word—" no shyin' o' shoes here, Mister Bob !-Recollect you're not among lawyers noio ; tho' I must say- » " What d' ye say ?" hastily returned the heated orator, snatching from the delicate digits of the tall tar his long-quartered, long-painted, can- vass slipiier — I 206 DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. »■! "What does I say? — Why, I says, I grants you speaks no more nor the truth, naked, nat'ral, and bared to the bone : — but I must say, must indeed. Bob — that to me, its a reglar-built pauler ', how a fellor like you, — a fellor as hates, and ought too, to hate a lawyer worse, ay, nor even a Jew, — can now, now tarn to, to copy his prate, and use his very dientical lip and lingo. — Why, yoa talks as large, and comes the Dick * as fast an' as fine, as if, by Joe, you'd a-reglarly a-shipped the wig !" — " I talk like a" lawyer !— why, Sam, by your own showin', I speaks the truth, naked, nat'ral, and bared to the bone." " Han'somely, bo ! — han'some/y. — Why, Bob, you has a fellor afore he's fairly down. — If you comes it in this here fashun, I'm blest but you'll pass for a reglar-built Bencher. — But just try back for a bend — take out the grind, and, you'll find it comes to this, and never no more — tl * Pauler, a puzzle. ' Dick, dictionary. . INTELLECT AFLOAT. 207 If Zije? sometimes weathers on Imo — why, it tells on the one tack as well as the t'other. — A fellor, we'll say, falls sick ; well ! — he goes to the doctor, — he can't do better. — But, then on t'other tack, 'sposin' he gets into debt, — gets pinn'd — gets in limbo, or gets in the clink — who does he look to then ? — who gets him his clearance ? — who, to be sure, but a reglar-built lawyer? — so, steady a bit, bo! — right your helm — fair play's a jewel — a trade's a trade — have bakers, have butchers — Jack Ketch must thrive as well as another. — Then, on t'other tack — how's a lawyer to deal with a rogue — or treat a ruffin?" " How ? — why the same way he does with a timid man, or modest woman — bully and badger till all's blue. — But, no,— he knows a trick worth two on it — he knows a hard-hearted ready rascal will sarve him out, and give him more than his own.~No, no, he won't grapple with his match —not he 1 once see'd a light-finger'd chap floor a reg'lar Upper like smoke and oakum. — The pickpocket, as was only a witness, stands the 208 DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. ' » badgerin', at first, better than a well-baited bear : — at last, the light-finger'dlad opens his fire, and pours on the prater a double-shotted Billinsgate broadside as soon lowers the lawyer's lip : — 'till, findin' he was fairly floor'd, and goin' to looard as fast a haystack adrift, he loses his temper — turns to a snivellin', and prays an* 'plores the judge on the bench to grant him protection !" " Protection ! —why he more nor another ? — why more nor a better man ?" indignantly ex- claimed a sitter hitherto silent on the subject in debate. — " I wouldn't grant, no, not one on 'em one ; nor does I see why as lawyers shou'dn't be prest as well as the other lubberly grass-combin' beggars they us'd to pin in the war." " Protection! — why, Joe, we're on opposite tacks — I doesn't mean^ man, a yjress protection." " Oh ! I axes your pardon ; — but still. Bob, there's never no makin' more of a thing nor it is — a protection's ii protection all the world over. — Howsomever, strike out again — strike out, my son. INTELLECT AFLOAT. 209 1 I- " But come, come," interposed the original mover of the original question—" come, I say— I say, we've taken a precious, precious wide yaw ' from our course— What's the meanin' on it?— I axes afore for tliat— I wants no more nor the real, reg'lar-built meanin' o' the matter— 'March-o'-Mindr—March-o'-Mindf—Vm blest if it isn't a thoro-bred paider, isn't it, Joe ?" " Why, at first sight, Jim,— at first sight," returned the interrogated tar, assuming all the air and consequence of oracular authority,—" at first sight, 'twould sartinly seem as much; but I thinks I can clear the kile,— I thinks I has it— You see, Jim, this here MavcXi-o' -M\m\~{that\s the word, isn't it ?)— well, this here March-o'- Mind means, you see,— means, you see, when a chap's a mind to march, he may !" " Oh ! that's it, is't ?— Well, in course, Tom in course you ought to know best:— but /knows thi,s_/V(? never no mind to march.— I knows * Yaw, a digression. [ • • r 210 DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. [',■ t > I when I've a good berth — a good barkey and meets with good usage. — 1 knows more too, — I knows my sarvitude time will tell at a time when I neither can sarve myself or Sal. — Talk o* the Marchan'-sarvus — What d'ye get in it now? — Small wages and worse wittels, for precious hard wearin'-out work — Get hurt in the hold, fall from aloft, fractur your pate, or catch a West-Ingy fever, who then's to cure you ? — a groggy skip- per, or a greasy cook ? — No, no, a good man as knows well his work, and knows how to respect himself — ^mind; I says himself— {or if a man won't respect himself, where's the fellow as will ? — Yes, yes, let a man but respect himself, obey his officers, and keep from Up and lickor, and he need never, no never, shy a King's ship, or, in any way, dread a man-o'-war. — The man as tle- sarves the name o' man is sure, sure to be treated like a man, — and sure, in the end, to meet wi' reward \" * The subjoined extracts from a recently published pam- phlet, entitled, " Impressment of Seamen," and the production INTELLECT AFLOAT. •ill 1 " Well done our side o* the house! — well done, Jim !" vociferated the tall tar, accompany- of a " Naval Officer" of intelligence and experience, fully cor- roborate Jack's assertion. " It has been a matter of regret with me, that so little is known of the real comfort and advantages of a well- regulated man-of-war. They ought to be sung in every cottage in the kingdom, that the inhabitants of those humble mansions may know how well it fares with their friends at sea. It is true, that those of inquiring minds, and whose local circumstances give them the opportunity of information, are well aware that the governing principle, and practice of the service, are directed to the great objects of protection, and benefit to the men. " How little is it generally known that an able seaman may lay by ten jounds a-year, out of his wages, after clothing him- self with neatness and comfort. " Tliat he has an excellent bed, and every necessary descrip- tion of clotiiing, of the most suitable quality, at fixed and rea- sonable prices ; also tobacco and soap. " That he has the same provisions, both in quality and quan- tity, as the admiral commanding the fleet; the daily allowances are liberal, and include a pint of wine, or a proportion of spirits. " That he has the best medical attendance, medicines, and medical comforts in sickness, free of all abatement from his wages. " That he has two months' wag jspaid in advance, when the ship is first fitted, to enable him to supply his wants. " Tliat he may, while abroad, receive a certain sum monthly, as pocket money, if he wish it ; and this optional advance is s • ' I h 212 DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. ing the compliment with a heavy open-handed ship on his messmate's shoulder. — " And, more- i ! I very proper to the extent to which it goes, but would be objec- tionable if carried further. " That he has peculiar advantages, not granted to officers, ex- cept those of the inferior classes, (non-commissioned ofRcers:) Viz. " That he can allot a portion of his wages for the main- tenance of his wife, children, mother, or sister, if he please ; which is paid to the party monthly, free of all charge. " That he has the privilege of sending letters to his family from any part of the world, subject only to a charge oione penny ; it is, therefore, the fault of the man himself if his family are ignorant of his situation. " That he can, when the ship is paid, (which, by Act of Par- liament, must be at the end of every year, and every six months after, when in England,) have all or a part of his wages* re- mitted to any place in the united kingdom, at the Government risk, for the use of his family ; or there to receive it himself, if he should be going on leave of absence, or be discharged. •' That he has a bounty of five pounds for voluntary service in war. " That the permanent appointments to the situations of boatswain and gunner, are given to the most deserving sea- men, whether impressed or not, which operate as an encourage- ment to good conduct ; wounded men are eligible to warrants as ship's cook. It is not meant, however, by this, to say, that the advancement of the seamen is limited to such rank, but, on * May it not be well to have power to remit to the savings' bank of a man's parish ? INTELLECT AFLOAT. 213 over, Jim, you knows well, the very chaps as sneer an' snarl 'bout the cruelty o' the cat, and the likes o' that 'ere shore-goin' lubberly trash, are only your pieabald parlimin'-praters,- Jiaps as are sore an' savage at seein' seamen contented — 'stid of growlin' and dissatisfied like their sulky selves.— And yet, yet these very same hipper- crocodile varmins as pretend to pity, and feel, so much, as they tarm it, * for then fdlor^creturs; the contrary, I have the pleasure of being acquainted with some highly estimable men who were before the mast, who Iiail no- thing to recommend them but their skill and good conduct, and now do credit to tlie service in its highest classes ; and, if needful, 1 could mention by name some of those distinguished men who were impressed into the service. " That a seaman has a pension after a certain number of years' service, if he produces testimonials of good conduct, and has never deserted. " That he has that noble institution, Greenwich Hospital open to him in old age, or if maimed in the service. " That his children are eligible to the schools atGreenwich, where they receive excellent instruction, calculated to fit them for any station their good conduct in the navy or merchant-ser- vice may obtain. " These, with many others, are benefits which belong equally to the marines when embarked, and they are enjoyed in common by impressed men as well as others." 214 DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. are always the first, the very Jirst to cut down an' dock a poor fellor-cretur's hard-earn'd pay, or to try an' knock off" the harder-earn'd pension his king and country allows him to keep the little life that's left from leakage " " That's you, Sam," ejaculated the last inter- locutor. — " You says no more nor the truth — seamen are not dissatisfied, if not over-worked in port, nor yet discontented when they gets liberty ashore, — we knows the revarse, — an' all on us know the best berth a seaman, or sea- farin'-man, can find is 'board of a high-keltered, crack man-o'-war — a ship as makes every man know his work — every man do his duty, an' no man a morsel more.^^ " Where's the man as denies it, Jim ?" " No one, as / knows : — but where's the man, as can tell me — tell we as a man, the real meanin' o' this my sty matter: — where's that man — where's that man, Tom ?" reiterated the perplexed inquirer of a question, which had al- ready betrayed the disputants into those long INTELLECT AFLOAT. 215 irrelevant digressions peculiar to seamen in de- bate. " Where's the man ?— why, here, here he is," cried an elderly tar, pointing to a fellow-fore- castle-man who had just * taken up a close-order station* in the centre of the seated circle. " Here's the man as 'ill soon come to the marrow o' the matter. — I say, Ned, you, as knows sum- mit o' summit, and knows what's what, better nor most,— in course, you can take the thund'ring tho'roput' out o' this precious mess. — Here's Jim here, jamm'd like Jackson, hard up in a clinch, an' can never get no one to clear the kile, or give him the real dientical meanin' o' this here new-lanch'd lubberly phrase, as seems to puzzle us more afloat, nor even the long-headed fellors ashore." " What! ye me?j[i%t\ie March-o'-Mind?" " That's you, Ned— you has it—that's the ticket, bo." ' To disentangle. I il,j mam mmm 216 DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. h ',. ?. 1! " Then I can tell ye, Tom," returned the welcome interpreter to the puzzled party — " I can tell ye, it means no more nor this — Prate ! — prate ! — prate ! — gab ! — gab ! — gab ! — Pretendin* to know and do every thing better than the best o' your betters — a Hkin' to lay down the law — to deal in lip — to use long-winded words 'thout knowin' a word o' their meanin' — to pour over newspapers, as far oft'ner mea?i more mischief nor type 'ould tell — to pratein a pot- house — to talk large and larn'd over your pipe and lickor — to growl like a landsman, an' rig like a lubber — to sham a small smatt'rin' of every trade, and to never know iiothin* o' your oicn. — An' d it — to clinch the whole — to end your days, and die like a dog in a ditch, for darin* to dabble out o' your depth." " Hurrah ! — Well done, Ned ! — I know'd you was the fellor as 'ould soon give us the English o* the matter." " Ay, ay, Tom : but Ned has given us more nor owe meanin', you know — /wants the one real, INTELLECT AFLOAT. 217 reglar-built meaniii' o' the matter ; for, as I said afore, it must be a _ double deceiver, as means more nor the one identical thing." " Well, Jim," returned the interpreter, " you has your choice, — take any one. o' the few I gave ye. I've only given you the standin' part of a few of the meariins as stand for the phrase. But I can tell ye Mw— there's more mischief in the thing nor people thinks." " Well, isn't that exactly— ea-rtc% what / says ?" " To be sure, Jim — to be sure it is. Why, I was lately paid off from a ship-sloop-o'war. (I'll keep her name to myself, for I doesn't like to disgrace a craft as desarves the name of a clip- per) ; but I was lately paid off from a craft, as was all as one as a floatin' parlimint house. There never was gather'd together such a beo-- garly bunch of pratin' pollytishins. There was the captain o' the main top as took in the ' Times ' We subsequently paid off, and re-commissioned this ship. VOL. I. L ' t 218 DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. as reglar, ay, as he took liis daily allowance. — Let the ship go wliere she would, the newspaper reg'larly followed the fellor. — 'Stead of lookin' after his top, an' the likes o* that, he was always skulkin' below, pourin' over papers, or, as was mostly his favourite fashun, readin' out loud to a large lazy set of haddock-mouth'd listners, the whole o' the parlimint-palaver as was cramm'd fhock o' block in every column o' the ' Times.* — In as many minutes, he'd make as many re- marks as 'ou'd fill a Liner's log for a month, x'here he'd lay down the law — say, if he was prime minister, he*d do this — that the First Lord o' the Admirallity ought to do that ; — if he was First Lord, he'd know tcell what to do " " Well," interrupted the long forecastle-man, " I only wishes / was the First L.ord — / knows well what Fd do." " Vtliutr" asked an inquisitive topman. " What ? — why, take care o' myself for life — make myself cook o' the Callydony \" ' Caledonia, first-rate. I / ' INTELLECT AFLOAT. yif) "Well, you might do worse nor thaf.— Il,ir, bless your heart," continued ^knowinf/ AW- (for Iiere the cognomen cannot be considered a ^hrcach of privilege')-" but, bless your heart, this March-o^-Mind was reg'larly playin' the devil afloat—Fellors 'oud cut such capers- thoughts comed into their heads as never was know'd afore.-Them as was spliced, reg'larly twice a week, (days we didn't wash below,) must send off to their lovin' ribs long lubberly letters, criss'dandcross'dfore-an'-aft, and athaut-ships! for all the world like the square meshes of a splinter-nettin'; an' if they didn't reg'larly re- ceive by return o' post-for they all had their stated days, an' look'd for letters from the cryin' craft, as reg'larly as they did for pipi„' to din- ner-you'd see the poor devils the whole day long pinin' below, an' doin' far worse, neglectin' their duty on deck. But that wasn't all I 'members one day fittin' out in Hamoaze-the chief boson's-mate, as one, 'oud suppose, ought to know more o' the sarvus-well, this chap, L 2 :'i 'i la : I i'[ 220 DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. as was long in the doctor's list, comes aft to the first-leaftennant, and clappin' on a mug o' mis'ry, axes for tivo days' lihertij ashore. — ^ Ashore T says the first-leaftennant, thinkin' the man was mad — an' well he might — 'a man in the doctors list ax for liberty ashore ! — why, my man,' says the first-leaftennant, ' this is comin' it strong in- deed !' says he — * I thought,' says the boson's-mate, — 'I thought, Sir,' says he, *you didn't divine my drift !' — ' Oh ! I axes your pardon,' says the first-leaftennant, opening a frolicksome fire on the fellow — ' I axes your pardon — pray explain i' you please.' — 'Well, Sir,' says Pipes, as stiff" as a sulky soger, — * it seems. Sir,' says he, — ' that's, it seems so to ir.c — when a man's unwell, it be- comes,' says he — ' becomes no more nor his duty to recover his health as fast as he can — the sar- vus,' says he — * the sarvus demands it. — So, Sir,' says Pipes, 'as I'm terribly troubled with the roomatis, an', as I well knows from 'sperience, there's never no other way to cure mC; I wants,' says he, ' with your parmission — tioo days' li- J'i INTELLECT AFLOAT. 221 berty ashore to take a dozen or two tcarm-haths \' —I'm blest, if the first-leaftennant didn't nearly drop down on the deck in a fit o' laniihin'." " An' well he might: but I say, Ned, did he get the liberty?" " To be sure he did— The first-leaftennai.t cou'dn't, for the life on him, find it in his o-ood- natur'd heart to refuse the fellow: but, bless you, that s a trifle to some o' their rigs.— We'd an- other boson's-mate, a smart fellow too, in his way , lat he liked his beer. Whenever the fel- low went ashore, he always came back to the ship as drunk as a lord : he used to say, 'twas the only time as ever he iudulffed in lickor: how- somever, as soon as he sobered, an' came to him- self, down he'd dive to the doctor, sayin'— sayin' (let's se.- what was the word?)— ay, I has it— sayin' he was fairly criplh- -that's crippl'd you know, and beggin' the doctor to give him a cool Sally-lion draught— one o* your 5o/^cr-watcr dozes— to ease the pain in his splittin' pate.— It's ' This is literally true, and the man i name was Crawley. L.3 [ fi ) 222 DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. as true as I'm sittin' here. Well, there's two touches o' your March-o*-Mind — now here's strike out for a third." " Go it, Ned ! go it, bo !" was the general cry. — " Well, you must know, this same captain o' the main-top — this same dientical chap as took in the ' Timest was one o' your fiddle-faddle fancy-men wi' the women — a terrible chap for say in' a-soft things, an' dealin' in ' yf icate lip, as you know, as most ladies like. Well, I 'members one time, a-layin' in Kin sale har- bour, when two or three o' the petty officers' wives as went to sea in the ship were all ashore but the one, an' she was the s/ie-gunner's-mate — well, this here Vaux ' — (for that was the fellow's name, an', moreover, he used to boast an' brag as he was iXxeJirst o' the family) — well, this her- Vaux took a terrible likin' to this s/it'-gunnei'i-; mate, — an* she, sartinly, a likin' for he. — She > Tliis man's name may be found in the books of the sh!p in question. ill INTELLECT AFLOAT. iJ2.3 used to say ' he said such things,— so nice a man —so pretty spoken,— so good-natur'd,— so good a scholard, — an' so so sober an' steady a man,' she'd say, shyin' a leerin' look at lier husband, as much as to say— < that's more nor I can say o' you. Mister lorn.' Well, every one seed as Vaux and 8al were on more nor talkin' tarms • he used to write her varses, send her Valentines, an' amuse her mind by readin' out to her all the robb'ries, murders, an' crim-cons as appear'd in theTeW.?.'" " O/wj-cons \—Wliat the devil are they ?" " Why, it's a China word, I b'lieve ; but it means no more nor runnin' away wi' another man's wife." " What !— a messmate's ?" " No, no, she wasn't a messmate — there was just a berth atwixt 'em. Howsomeve., Tom, (the gunner's-mate, you know) smells a rat, an' says, one morn, comin' up to Vaux, as he catches him a-larnin' Sal to sing, an' tippin her one o' his Valentine varses — ' I say, young fellow,' says L 4 224 DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. *i Tom, snatching the paper out o' the fellow's fist, — * I say, Fve a score to settle wi' you.' * A score !' says Vanx, — 'what for?' 'Don't mnid him,' says Sal, leavin' Tom an' the c This paper was originally published in the " United Ser- vice Journal," in the year 1829. 4«J- . "!l^ ■ Iji1>ii' 1 - ■ ' J > n«e >- i r, 240 TWENTY-EIGHT-GUN SHIPS struction and constant practice of exercising a large body of men as seamen, but in a new system of artillery, which, in the event of a war, will, to say the least of it, give us more trouble than we have ever experienced in either single or general engagements with the French afloat. A reference to the work of M. Paixhams, en- titled " Nouvelle Force Maritime" published six years ago, will give our readers some idea of the preparations which France has made, and doubt- less continues to make, against the event of a new maritime struggle. The naval measures of America are not so extensive as those of the French, but we know from experience that their system of naval archi- tecture has already been successful ; and, as the inference seems inevitable that they will pursue their plans to a more complete developement, we ought no longer to hesitate about taking steps to meet them on equal terms. — It is well known that the chief features of what may be called their Naval Reform, consisted in building vessels of a AND TEN-GUN BRIGS. 241 ising a a new f a war, trouble r single L afloat, ms, en- jlied six la of the I doubt- snt of a not so re know al arclii- 1, as the I pursue lent, we steps to own that ed their isels of a much larger size than is usual in the class from which they derive their denominations. Their frigates are larger, and of heavier metal than ours; and their sloops have had the same mechanical superiority over our sloops. To meet them fairly in action we should meet them in ship-building ; and having built as they build, we should make experimental cruizes with the vessels thus newly constructed, in order to ascertain the rate of sail- ing and other qualities as < men of war.' But instead of this, we are not only perpetuating our old scantling of vessels, but even creating other ships inferior in size and force to those which constitute their respective classes. We are building, and employing small frigates, and in- creasing the number of ten-gun brigs i, instead of those of eighteen, although we know that other powers have no vessels which are not more than a match in size and metal for the former—Our > We are happy to see that this practice has been aban- doned. VOL. I. M ■ II timm m d tH ' .jm' .» ' . 242 TWENTV-EIGHT-GUN SHIPS ( ! f \i M : ! frigates must either ingloriously engage sloops, such as the Wasp of the United States, or be beaten by other frigates, as in the instance of the Macedonian, Guerriere, and Java, But the case of the ten-gun brigs is even worse ; they can neither ^^/t? nor fly — prevent a convoy in war, or prevent smuggling in peace. Captain Pettman, a post-captain in the navy, " challenges ' any officer who has ever sailed in this class of vessels to dispute, under his own signature, the correctness of his assertion, that they are perfectly safe and very superior sea- boats, and exceedingly well calculated for packets." What ! attach a signature to a professional ' opinion' without Sifee ? — Is there a full-wigged barrister in the land, who, on so serious a sub- ject, would even ' ship his spectacles' to open Blackstone, or consult Coke, under at least a 1 In a letter which appeared in the Courier. AND TEN-GUN BRIGS. 243 twenty-four pounder?- Why, then, should any ' «ea-lawyer' so commit himself as even to make I"'s mark to an opinion in opposition to the re- corded testimony of the ' signinf,.officer^ in the Courier; and who, by the by, in thus coming forward to espouse the cause of the ' CharUy Brig,' appears to have acted strictly in accordance with the proverb, that " charity begins at home;" for, as a post-c^^tmn, he is happily excluded from the command of such a vessel-his rank rescues him from such a miserable doom. Captain P. congratulates himself that the * reports' of officers who have commanded these vessels corroborate his testimony as to their < superior qualities as sea-boats.' It is true, that favourable * reports' are made by commanders of these vessels; but, to say no- thing of the official form in which these reports are embodied, neither Captain Pettman, nor any other defender of this defenceless class can deny, that the officers in question may be induced to forego any manifestation of their opinion out of fTTzr. f I . ! 244 TWENTY-EIGHT-GUN SHIPS 'ft I 'I %\:i nil ill-grounder Newfoundland, her 'tween- decks would have been equally encumbered with the extra quantity of provision-casks which she was compelled to carry ' above hatches* for the voyage. It may be urged that these vessels have dis- tinguished themselves in battle. With the ex- ception of the capture of the Manly Dutch gun- brig by the Onyr^ which gallant achievement was chiefly attributable to the dexterous skill evinced on that occasion by the British com- mander, in manoeuvering his vessel, the writer AND TEN-GUN lillJGS. 251 is not aw^re of any instance in which a ten-gun- brig has captured her opponent in single con^bat. -It is true that the ' 7hi,iy/ participated in tlie * untoward event' of Navarino. In that aftUir, one of those vessels, commanded by a young nobleman, is represented as having suu/t her ad! versary o.i the Jirst broadside ! But of what de- scription was hvv adversary ?-If we are cor- rectly informed, a "miserable craft" fitted out as a rire-vessel, being in fact Jit for nothing else, and which a line-of-battle-sliip's launch migiit have sunk with equal facility. With respect to the opinion advanced.-by Cap- tain Pettman, tluit ten-gun brigs are ' ve,y su- pcrior sea hoats,^ and 'exceedingly well calculate•» bcl,«vi„.„ ., ,,,, i, ;: "'"^" '"'"'^ ''y''""-""" to ^y t„ ,vi.ich of Hie causes tlie result is attributable. T1.C simplest experimeut, tl,„t ea„ be m„,le require that some eonclitions should be giveu otlierwise it is „„ experiment at all, in a seieuti-' «e--e;but iu the experimental ships, to whieh ;""""' ""■" ''-" '-- -"e. both the ,«„„•„, •J""'.:"''"'^'""'- --"-re so extremely "-..lar, that it .oul.l be the very spirit of «peeulat.on to draw any speeiiie inference, from «l.at we know of their performance, as an aeees- s.«n to our knowledge of naval construction. To lay the ground-work of an improved sys- tem of naval architecture, would be an elaborate undertaking, but it would also be a very import- ant one ; and the only way in which it could be accomplished, would be to take the ta.,k in h,md "■'"' " ''«*«™!'«'tion to do that (with proper as- -tanee) which it would be impossible to per- form with our present resources, and which it n 262 TWENTY-EIGHT-GUN SHIPS would be in vain for any one individual to at- tempt. Our means are, at present, insufficient, for we have not an office of construction — that is, a public de})artment in which provision is made for attending exclusively to scientific prelimina- ries; if we had, its immediate olyects would be very nearly as follow : — 1. The first thing would be to obtain the cal- culated properties of the whole of our ships, com- mentino: with those in actual service, so that we might turn to any ship on the list of the navy, and find her qualities properly described. 2. The position of the centre of ^raviti/, of at least one ship of every class, shouiu be deter- mined by experiment, whenever it can be doi.e without inconvenience to the service. 3. We should have tables of the weights of masts and yards, sails, cordage, guns, anchors, ca- bles, ammunition, and every other article included in the equipment, so that their general effect, as AN-n TEX-GU.V BRIGS. lal to at- cient, for -that is, a is made )relimina- would be 1 the cal- lips, com- o that we the navy, id. mty, of at be deter- n be doi.e \ceights of ichors, ca- 3 included effect, as 263 -!1 a.s the effect of ,.„, „r„p„,,, ^,^ may be properly investigated. 4. Descriptive drawings of the .,„,.«^, .,,. 7^ 7 "''» "^---y- '» ^l.ow the capacities of the holds, store.r«oms,&o., and to estimate " t"^"'- •"■ ^^-'-^hts by their known dis- positions. 5- We ought to have accurate ;,W.„_^ ,„,,,, (or nggn,g draught,,) to show the con.parative powers of canvass, and to demoustr^te the effect of any proi)osed altoratio., of , pars. «• The height of the ,.„,., „^._^„,,„f, l_^ -Is should be shown, also its position lougitu- omally. These are the outlines of the leading objects of an office of construction ; and tasks of such magnitude could only be achieved by the e. elusive energies and attention of a plurality of persons. 7 To assist them in their labours, it would b« desirable tc form a professional lilrary, and to take in such periodical works, English and I I', — ma 264 TWENTY-EIGHT-GUN SHIPS hi foreign, as immediately relate to naval affairs ; for it is indispensable that individuals engaged in the advancement of naval science should pro- secute the study of mathematics, have opportu- nities of research, and watch the progress of professional improvements. 8. The benefit of such a library might be extended to naval officers, and others, under the sanction of the Admiralty. 9. The instruction now" given in nautical sci- ence, at the school of naval architecture, might be continued as heretofore ; and the professor could be assisted in his lectures by members of the office of construction. 10. The instruction in the scientific branches of naval architecture hitherto given to the stu- dents during their course of study, might in fu- ture be afforded with increased advfintages. 11. The transactions of an oflSce so consti- tuted would be carefully recorded, and its jour- nalized proceedings regarded as public property; and all its documents should be so prcL _rved. .i i affairs ; ngaged Id pro- pportu- ress of ight be ider the ical sci- , might »rofessor ibers of >ranches the stu- ;it in fu- ;es. ► eoiisti- its jour- roperty ; •eiL .rved, AND TEN-GUN BRIGS. 265 that they could at any time be submitted to in- vestigation. 12. A limited correspondence might be kept up with the whole of the naval establishments, with a view to collect, and ultimately to make a good arrangement of, every species of useful information. •3. The members of such an ofRec might be called up„„ occasionally, to join in reports on any new plans, or improvements, which may be under consideration, and which may comewkhin the character of their pursuits. 14- When the operations „f ,l,e „ffiee be- come organized, part of its attention n,igl,t be rfn-ected, with advantage perhaj.s, to the state of naval .denee and nautical economy in other countries '. * It wi'M be rei-ollrctr, n ■ .,^,.j ■ ""«"■, •■ Rii "11, "hose wriiinc, ],.,,. pi-uducecl , grcn, sensation, n« onl, ,„ ,|,i, but in I every other co„n,.„ .e.«e. „i„.e,f f„. „o ,.; „ ':;: /i.>.w, .0 „ie .h,e,„e.,.„„„e, of on, „„,i„n,„ ,Z: ' Con,„,c„,„,. Mi,„ary, and K.,.al ,Wce of Ore,, B.iZ, s.een,.„,a,.w,,,.,..,„,_,„,., _^^^^ -^ I ! I 266 TVVENTY-EIGHT-GUN SHIPS, &C. 15. Experimental science, to which wt owe so much, and from which there is yet much to expect, would claim the attentive consideration of an office of construction ; it would, therefore, be an object of great importance to revise the reports on ships' sailing qualities, so that they may be made available to scientific views." tions and practices, and to point out to France what to follow." This was a very natural wish on the part of M. Dupin, in which he certainly succeeded ; for, in an address to the Academy of Sciences, at Paris, (1820) he acknowledges having gleaned many valuable hints from our dock-yards. Speaking of the School of Naval Architecture, Dupin expresses some surprise at an order which emanated from a Committee of the House of Commons, (1819) forbidding further instruction in French to the members of that establishment, to prevent them transfer- ring their services to foreign powers ; and then he observes, " Ce passage qui contraste si fort avec les vues gen^ralement saines et genereuses des comites du parlement, merite d'etre cite et medite." The knowledge of a foreign tongue appears to have been of great service to M. Dupin, and it is not quite ob- vious why the French language may not some day be similarly instrumental in rendering useful services to this country ; be- sides, the French abound in scientific works, and nothing would be so effective a check to improvement in naval science as not to be able to read them. i I t / ., '! we owe much to deration lerefore, wise the lat they to follow." n, in which Academy of ig gleaned iing of the ne surprise e House of 1 French to tn transfer, le observes, nerslement erite d'etre ; appears to ot quite ob- be similarly ountry ; be- nd nothing aval science RECREATIONS IN RHYME. THE LIEUTENAXT'S LAMENT. War ! ar' war! no peace.-Peace is to me a war!" As .sure as a gun, We shall all be undone, If longer continue the peace; A tc/p we shan't know From a futtook below, Nor a block from a bucket of grease. Tis vain to aj/jily, Or in any way fry, For a berth or a 'larkey' in peace; N 2 mmi 26Q RECREATIONS IN RHYME. m > s- If young, we are told We must yield to the old, — 'Till our prospects and cradles increase. Then, are we in years ? Our * age interferes' "With juniors appointed as Jirst ' ;' Tho' still in our prime, As if 'twere a crime ' Zon^-standing' is treated the worst. Too green we're to-day, To-morrow too grey. Too long or too short on the list ; Excuse will be found, To keep us ' a-ground,' And keep us from grinding our grist. Altho' we indite, From morning to night, Memorials for berths by the score ; Each answer's the same, That is — ' noted the name,' Tho' noted for nought but a * bore,' 1 First lieutenant. iy THE LIEUTENANT'S LAMENT. Saould plans we invent, Be officially sent, Tod.eB d,,.^^^^^.^^^^^ I^he friends in affection Reward with « re>c/io«/ And make us no other amends. Each quarter we make Affidavit, and take O" oaths that weVe„u,„,e„p,„y, That we leave in the luroh, Ourselves and the Chureh, Norlife,„„ra.fcVonjoy'. ' Wien this Board had „. ;, ,. , ffl^lly .0 .„ offleer, ft,;,„ . ' °""' ""'f""". «• ann„„„„ .elves Hs-.„^„„,„„,^,,;^;;7 «""'aUy subscriM .he,„. * The form of thp i^ip ' . '/ /A Photographic Sciences Corporation V 4- ^ \ \ ^ b' Tt/i I iijii^iii 274 RECREATIONS IN RHYME. J J Land-breezes spring up from the southernmost side, The boats are fast closin' the port, The foe is diskiver'd to tend to the tide, The sentry heard hailin' the fort. Then strike-out, my lads, in the cutter and barge, The pinnace, see, boards n the bow ; The launch lags astern, she's heavy an' large, But soon she'll be up for the row. There ! — slap goes the cable — and up goes the jib. And offahe pays round on her heel ; Our officer's hit, — " Only stuck in the rib," He cries, as he slashes his steel. She's all our own — for'ard, — ^let's sally abaft. The quarter-deck yet we've to gain ; "What say ye, my sons ? — with a will ibre an' aft, And show we don't rally in vain. The cutlasses clash, and the blades on *em fly. And pistols flash full in the face. But nothin' can stand us, so never say die ! Hurrah ! an' we're gainin* apace. v« . ,'^JmiMms. THE BOARDERS.— A GALLEY STAVE. '275 They take to their fins, an' they take to their feet, The enemy scamper around; The taupsails quick loose-and quick home with 'em sheet, 'Twon't do for to get her aground. The batteries bang-how they scatter the grape, The forts appear fairly afire ; Should the sticks only stand,-and the stays but escape. And bang they may blaze till they tire. So port a-bit, bo,-keep the lights in a line, Keep right in the strength o' the tide ; We've plenty o' water-she deepens to nine- The shoal's on the opposite side. And now, my sea-sons, for three thundering cheers, For short fall the shot from the fort ; ' ' We draw-off" the land, and the frigate we hear, She'll soon tow the prize into port ! N 6 *«r'-»*"^*>^*^^**«*~^Wi^^"'*^^*'**^'^ Hr III un i t LEAVES OF THE PRIVATE LOG or A CAPTAIN ON HALF PAY. " I will make a prief of it in my note-book." Shakspeare. March 1st. — Returned to town from Brighton — Sick of Steyne, chain-pier and cockneys of the coast. Three, p.m. — Bore up for Chib — found it filled — Whigs and Tories on opposite tacks — Rads laid up in « Rotten-row' — Conduct of the * tail* retailed. Mem. — Queer remarks on par- liamentary * pluck.' LEAVES OF THE PRIVATE LOG, &C. 277 March 2n€f.— Horribly in the blues— Climate as fickle as the people- Wind as unsteady as statesmen-Pouring over morning papers- * Precarious state of Spain'—' War in Por- tugal'- « Miguel the monster'— « Fall of usurper'-* Rise of funds'-* Rebels routed'- * Oppressed people'— « Ancient ally'- * Fallen foe'— « Legitimate means'—* Foreign force'— « Non-intervention'—* Strict neutrality'—* Let- tersfrom Lisbon'-* Strange reports of continental Queens'-* Constitutional cause'-* Lusitanian deliverer'-* Liberating army'-* Englishmen in chains'—* Cause of humanity.' March 3rrf.-Thick fog-Steered for Strand —Tried to weather agent-no go— Omnibuses boarding each other in the smoke—* Celerity' foul of * Chancellor'—* Chancellor' aboard of * Union'—* Union' foul of * Reform'—* Reform' knocked to pieces— rotten in the perch—* Tax^ carts' creeping to windward-* Favorite' lagging to leeward. March 4^A.— Wind at east-Hard weather- 278 LEAVES or THE PRIVATE LOO OF I- '' Face of nature shrivelled up — Ditto, face divine — Physicians picking up fees — Undertakers . in high feather. Mem. — Both trades thriving. — At two clapped on down-haul * — Started on a man- o*-war*s cruise — Fell in with a full-feathered hearse — five mourning-coaches — and a long line of carriages * flying light.' — N.B. Sable-squad brought up, all standing at turnpike-gate — Thought dead might repair to long home with- out paying for repair of pavement. Mem. — Toll of bell and toll of ^ate, double tax. March 5th. — Received official damper in re- ply to application for employment — went to bed — slept it ofl^. March 6th. — Mud without, and misery within — Waded through parliamentary debates — Query, Rhetoric included in * Bill of Reform ?' — Stood into Arcade — Put into Truefit's managerie — thronged with customers. N.B. — Observed more hairy faces than heads of hair. Query — * Surtout. "ii^^mmmem A CAPTAIN ON HALF-PAY. 279 Unmounted men right to mount moustaches- Suggest tax to Chancellor of Exchequer— Re- turned home-Detected mother reading a ro- mance, entitled * First Affections: N.B.— Old woman in her sixty-third year-7. 30. p.m. went to Opera— took up a berth in the pit. N.B.— Not horse enough to take to a stall : heard sing— voice evidently veiled-recommend her a Yankee ^fogmatic'-Ue^rd odd remarks about her build-Believe in England-a good singer, like a good sailor, must be « clean in the run' and neat in the upper works. iW^m.— Vestris to wit. — O^aswBW" mmm^'mifmiimi JACK IN PARLIAMENT: DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. " Well, I doesn't see, Ned, why we |Blue- jackets shouldn't have praters in Parlimint, just as well as the other trades as send up their reg'lar spouters. — Now, Ned, d'ye know, I doesn't think you'd make a bad fist yourself at a speech." " Why, now, Sam, you puts the thing in my pate — I doesn't see why I hasn't as much right to be made a Member o' Parlimint as one WPi*" JACK IN rABUAMENT. 281 half the chap, « are sent there to prate on mat- ters they knows nothin' about " We sartinly wants a chap or two there as 'oud 'ave pluck enough to floor tliat pratin' po- thecary, an' the likes of he, as is always snarUn' about the seamen of the sarvus, and wantin' to cut-off their pay and prog.-Well, now, sup- P08m>, Ned, you happens to be made a Member -and there's more things more unlikely nor that-suppose, we'll say, you happens to be made Member for BilUngsgate, what would be the first thing you'd do when you'd take up your berth in the House ?" " Why, Tom, that would depend on what they calls the question afore the House. Now it Height so happen as they were on that eternal teck of taxes and ties\^^N^l^^ then, I'll tell ye what I'ddo-and moreover tell ye what I'd tell any man as dared to touch on the pint." " Now for it, Ned,-now let's hear how you'd work your Parlimint men." » Tithes— pronounced ties by Jack. 282 JACK IN parliament: « I I f'li Well, you know, the first thing I'd do afore I shapes my course for the Spoutin'-shop, I'd make for the tap and freshen my nip, — for they say your Parlimint chaps can never do nothin* 'thout reg'larly layin' in their night's allowance. — Well, as soon as I takes in a tumbler or two, and stows my lickor away snug under hatches, I'd up with my helm, steer straight for the spoutin' anchorage, and take up a rakin'-berth close athawt hawse of the pratin' pothecary's bows — for he's the first fellow as should feel the force of a rakin' fire. — In course I'd keep fast my fire till both sides begins to open their ports, an' blaze an' bang away on the double score of ties and taxes ; — then I'd get on my pins — for you see every chap as attempts to spout in Par- limint must take to his * legs,' ay, and stiff as a church, for fear a fellow should be taken for a tailor. — Well, as soon as I gets on my pins, and clears my mouth o' my quid, — for ye may be sartin I'd sing out in what your Parllmint~men call a reg'lar-built laudable vice — a vice too, as DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. 283 I do afore •shop, I'd -for they do nothin' allowance, sr or two, r hatches, it for the akiu'-berth )othecary'8 lid feel the keep fast their ports, )le score of ( pins — for out in Par- nd stiff as a taken for a ly pins, and ye may be rlimint-men vice ioO) as every man and member fore-an'-aft should never forget-well, as soon as I'd find myself standin' stiff in the step, I'd say,—* Gem'men,' says I, * there's never no use in mincing the matter.— I'm not the man,' says I, thumpin* my fist on the table, to give, you know, full weight to my words—* Fm not the man,' says I, * as says the one thing and thinks the t'other.'— Then they'd begin to kick up a noisy nitty bellowin' out 'hear! hear!* like a bunch o' new made bosons, till not a soul in the House could hear the sound o' sense.—* Gemmen,' says I, opening a broad- side on both sides at once-for I doesn't see the diff 'rence 'twixt friend or foe when people won't hearken to reason,—* Gemmen,' says I, * I never wants none o' yom noise-^l wants the revarse— I wants you to larn to listen, and not to kick up a thunderin' hubbub as hinders all hands from hearin', with your pot-house pranks and bel- lowin' bursts of deafnin' 'liears: '—Then they'll begin to mind their man— mend their manners a bit— an' seem to listen a little to sense :— so, in I t I' >M I i 1 ! i i 284 JACK IN parliament: course, as soon as I gets them under my thumb for a while, an* finds 'em all as steady an' silent as a well-keltered ship a-goin' into action, I then goes on again. — * Gemmen,' says I, * you talks o' taxes, and you talks o' ties — now, Gemmen,' says I, * I'm not a goin,' says I, * to say a single syllable on the score o' taxes, — because you see,' says I, * I never knows more o' the matter nor they as made 'em ; but try me,' says I, * on the tack o' ties, an' you'll find me,' says I, < a match for the best barber as ever brought a wiry wig to a block ; — Fm not like some men,' says I, * / never,' says I, * talks on things I knows nothing about — I never,' says I, huUin' the pratin' po- thecary with a reg'lar raker 'twixt wind an' water, * I never sot up a Member for Mischeef-^ J never try to make sea-farin' folks discontented with their lot, or men-o'-wars-men detest the sarvus and desert their country.' — Then you'd hear, fore-an'-aft, a yelpin' cry of * order ! order r — * Gemmen,' says I, * you may order as much as you please— but Tm never the \y thumb Etn' silent n, I then yon talks remmen,' f a single you see,* atter nor *on the ' a match wiry wig lays I, ' / s nothing •atin* po- wind an' lischeef'— contented letest the len you'd < order f lay order lever the DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. QS'i man as means to ohey one o' your lubberly orders-an' moreover,' says I, * J j^.t thinks my- self as ffood a man as the biggest big wig among ye.'-Then some o' your sneenW chaps, as hav'n't the sense to talk, or the teeth to bite, will try all they can to make a man lose his temper, snarlin' out in a cur dog cry, * Oh f oh /'-as if a sea- farin' man was to be fright'ned by the yelpi„' cry of a barkin' cur.-^ So, sec here. Sir,' says F, lettm' fly a fierce look at the first fellow I catches comin' his snarling yelp-* See here. Sir,' says I just showin' him the size of my starboard fist J * See here. Sir,' says I, « if you comes your * OW over me any more, I'm blest,' says I, * but I'll soon make you mind your P's and Q's.'-Well you know, as soon as I gets 'em again into mani nerly kelter, I then tries back for a bend, and keeps on the tack o' ties. " * Gemmen,' says I, «/ 'members the time when ties were a British boast-when the finest sound as was heerd afloat-the most cheeringest cry as could rally a frigate or battleship's crew, 286 JACK IN parliament: ? •I i i.'l ! 1- was the tuneful cry of ' Tie for tie, an' d n all favours!' — But, gemmen,' says I, *tliat time o' times has long gone by ; an' long ties, like long sarvusses,* says I, letting fly another leveller at the pratin' 'pothecary, * have been both cut off to the downright ruination of the man, and the total destruction of the British nivvy !* — Then you'd hear cheers on every side. — ' Gemmen,' says I, " its no cheerin' matter. — I looks upon the dock- in' o' ties to be as bad — aye, even worse northe dockirC o' pensions — natur never intended poor people to be clipped of their nat'ral parquisites. — Gemmen, since the time as we took to clippin' o' ties, seamen have gone to the dogs : — when ties were worn, whether doubled up in a bight, or laid out in a Sunday length, we then were the world's boast — a man was a man.' — Then you'd hear three thundering cheers, an' out from the house I'd fly, with flyin' colours to freshen my nip — for talkin's a thirsty thing, and a man must wet his whistle if he wants to work his words." " Well, Ned — you comes back again ?" 13 '■' DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. 289 — n all time o* ce long eller at it off to he total 1 you'd says I, te dock- northe ed poor quisites. clippin* : — when a bight, en were len you'd from the 1 my nip must wet Is." V" " In course I does, as soon as I takes my tipple. — Well, as soon as the praters see I'm more nor a match for 'em all — and that I floors 'm on the tack o' ties, in course, they'll broach some other bisness — or begin to boast of their Foreign relations. * Gemmen,' says I, * thank God,' says I, ' I've no foreir/n relations — there's none o' the cross o' Crappo in me.' — Then they'll bellow out, ^hear! hear!* — * You may well sing out * hear,* ' says I, * for I tells you all. — I'm a reg'lar-built hull, ay, to the back bone.' — TJien you'd hear '^cheers* in earnest. — Then the snarler would try to give tongue on another score — an' get up his old tune of ' Flogr/in' afioat* In course he'll say — for the fellow 'ould swear thro' a nine-inch plank — in course he'll say enough to make all the lub- berly members believe, as know no more o' the matter nor he does himself, that seamen detest men-o'-war; and, moreover, that seamen are prest in time o' peace '.' ' '» • Jack seems to have paid attention to the late Parliamentary debates. 288 JACK IN parliament: " I say, Ned — wouldn't you stop the fellow in the middle of his prate, and tell him like a man, it was a thund'ring thumper ? If you wouldn't do thati you're not the man I takes ye to be." *' No, no, Sam, I'd let him go to the length of his tether — I'd let him go on a crammirC the House ; for the fellow 'd 'ave face enough to tell four or five honoured gemmen that he had already received more nor a million of letters complain' o* the cruelty o' the cat — Well, I'd let him run on till I marks the moment to open my fire ; then I'd pour such a peltin' broadside into the beg- gar's bows, I'd soon send the pester- an'-mortar- man staggrin' astern — ' Now, Gemmen,' says I, * you all hears the mischeef that there mischeev- ious man is tryin' to make in these here horrid mischeevious times. — Now I tells the fellow fairly, face to f?i,ce — an' I'm not the man as 'oud turn my back on the best Member among ye — ^but I tells the fellow fairly — an' I axes pardon o' the House' — for your big-wigs have never no objec- tion to a bit o' blarney — * I axes,' says I, * par- don of this here honourable House for callin* the I DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. 291 » fellow afelloiv.* — Then they'll sing out * Order /' again — and then, says I, * Gemmen, you knows it's never no use ; I've made up my mind on the pint — I'm detarmined to do my duty — and not sit here like some bhie-iackets as I could easily name — and let a man label his Majesty's sarvus for want o' tellin' the fellow a bit o' my mind, and bringin' him up with the round-turn. — Gemmen,' says I, * that there man-o'-mischeef is not only tryin' to humbug this here honorable House, but he's tryin* as well to gammon the seamen o' the sarvus into a sham-Abraham belief that he is their best an' onli/ friend ! — Now, Gem- men,' says I, gettin' bold on the business — ' Now,' says I, ' afore the Member for Multipli' cation ' (for they say he's a devil of a fellow of figurs) 'afore the multiplication-man makes his motion to knock off both pensions and punish- ments, I'll bet him a wager of a week's grog, he can never produce out of his million o' letters a single syllable from a thoro^-bred tar touchin' the cruelty o' cat !' Then you'd hear such clap- VOL. I. o 292 JACK IN PARLIAMENT : pin' o* hands, kickin' o* feet, an' such a reg'lar hubbub fore-an'-aft the House, that you'd fairly think the roof 'oud fall in. 'Now,' says I, * Gem- men,' as soon as I brings 'em back to a proper sort o' quarter-deck silence — ' Now, Gemmen,' says I, * if you believes me — an' I'm sure by all your right honourable mugs — I axes your pardons — I mean by all your beleevirH faces — I'm sure you does — you'll now allow me to capsize the 'pothe- cary's potion — I axes his pardon — his motion, I mean — and send him and his corporaVs punish- ment clean out o' the House in the hands o' the Master-a* farms.* Then you'll hear cheers from stem to starn. — * Gemmen,* says I, ' I've no ob- jection to cheers, but I doesn't like the way as you rig your roarers — Gemmen, your cheers are the cheers of a lubberly house — there's nothin' ship-shape about 'em — you doesn't sing-out to- gether. Now when you wants to cheer, let on)) some right honourable member give me the wink, an' I'm the man as 'ill soon give you all the ivord.* — This, you know, I says, to set 'em 10 DIALOGUE OF THE DECK. 29.3 reg'lar d fairly