THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON, 
 
 A NAVAL NOVEL. 
 
 BY 
 
 CAPTAIN SIR EDWARD BELCHER, R.N., C.B., 
 
 F.R,A.S., F.R.G.S., &C. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 VOL. II, 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 HURST AND BLACIOiTT, PUBLISHERS, 
 
 SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN, 
 
 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 
 1856.
 
 ClIAni.ES BEVAN AND SON, rRINTEBS, CHAPEI, STREET, OBOSVENOH SaVARE.
 
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BREKTOK 
 
 -A 
 
 £ CHAPTER I. 
 
 There are some men in the Avorld who so 
 evidently take it for granted that they are to 
 be rich, prosperous, and happy in this world, 
 that no one dares to remind them that riches, 
 prosperity, and happiness are only fairly the 
 result of prudence, integrity, and wisdom. 
 Henry Brenton was one of those men ; he 
 wore the finest linen and he drank the richest 
 wines, with an air that seemed to defy heaven 
 and earth to deprive him of his right so to do. 
 But there were occasions when the subject of 
 
 VOL. IT. B 
 
 2202870
 
 2 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 ways and means forced itself even on his lordly 
 attention. And at such a period our narrative 
 now finds him. He was no Charles Lancaster 
 to sin only just so far as might afford a friendly 
 heart an excuse for helping him. His in- 
 volvement was as great as was his disdain of 
 the idea of receiving any assistance. He 
 would help himself But how ? 
 
 Every one knows what wild and imprac- 
 ticable ideas occur to a man in difficulties. How 
 at one moment they take the form of a beg- 
 ging-letter, and at another to work day and 
 night without ceasing. Henry Brenton was 
 both too proud and too unprincipled to adopt 
 either of these methods of relieving himself 
 from the pressure of his debts, and he resolved 
 upon another course. There was a woman of 
 somewhat under forty, whom he had known 
 as a child, and who had flirted with him then 
 as a woman of thirty may flirt with a boy of 
 fourteen. He knew that she was wealthy, and 
 he resolved to marry her. He was not blind 
 to the disadvanta2;es of such an action, but he
 
 -I 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 3 
 
 felt that, he had sufficient protection against it 
 in the cold hardness of his disposition. 
 
 It was even autumn and the days were 
 chilly, and the tiger-lilies had cast then' 
 golden-spotted leaves on the damp garden 
 paths as he entered the wide portals of 
 Brenton Hall. His face was a little thinner 
 than when he had left, his form a little lighter, 
 and the servants thought him vastly improved ; 
 but without either awaiting or attending to 
 their criticism he passed hastily forward and 
 went on towards his sister's boudoir. Before 
 he had gone far, he found her standing at the 
 door of the housekeeper's room, and casting 
 his arms around her, he pressed her passion- 
 ately to his breast. He was human, after all, 
 and he felt* for his sister both pride and love. 
 
 But what is this? Why does she laugh 
 and struggle and say, ' Charles !' in a half- 
 indignant way till she has got free, and then 
 start and shrink back, and murmur, '' Henry 
 Brenton ! " 
 
 B 2
 
 4 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 *' Yes ! I am Henry Brenton ! And I thought 
 you were Margaret !" 
 
 " No, I am Ckra !" 
 
 Without saying anything more they walked 
 side by side to Margaret's boudoir, and then 
 everything was explained, but, naturally, nei- 
 ther of them said anything about the mistaken 
 embrace. 
 
 Charles Lancaster could never make out 
 how Clara and Henry had become friends in 
 so short a time. It was not his way. Before 
 he formed a friendship he first brooded over it 
 with an anguish of hope and fear, and then 
 held it tight to his heart, as if he feared that 
 every wind that blew would tear it from him. 
 But here were Henry and Clara on terms of 
 growing intimacy already, whilst he was only 
 asking himself why he started if he only heard 
 the utterance of her name. 
 
 With respect to the new phases introduced 
 into the life at Brenton Hall by the arrival of 
 Clara, it may be mentioned here, that Mar- 
 garet having never hitherto had a female
 
 J 
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 5 
 
 friend, installed Clara in that office, without 
 a moment's hesitation bestowing upon her the 
 freest confidence ; and that Clara, having ad- 
 mired Mr. Brenton, senior, for his firmness of 
 character and acquaintance with the great and 
 busy world, found in his son, who so closely 
 resembled him in these points, her ideal of 
 what a man should be. 
 
 And Henry Brenton found not in Clara his 
 ideal of a woman, for he had never formed any 
 but a source of sweet and new sensations, 
 which proved exquisitely grateful to his sen- 
 suous nature. 
 
 So there now took place through the long 
 winter in Brenton Hall, one of those noiseless 
 and almost invisible but desperate struggles 
 which sometimes take place between the strong 
 and the weak, when the former has sworn to 
 conquer and the latter is fighting for life. But 
 everything was against Charles Lancaster, and 
 had he even been equal to his antagonist in sub- 
 telty or moral energy, he would from the first 
 have had no chance. By one of those events
 
 6 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 which always occur to reveal what we most 
 wish to conceal, Henry Brenton discovered his 
 sister's liberality to Charles Lancaster. Had he 
 acquired the information a few months earlier, 
 his scornful indignation would have known no 
 bounds, but now he frankly told Charles and 
 Margaret, that he had acquired the infor- 
 mation, and gave them to understand by look 
 and tone how much it delighted him that his 
 beloved sister should have been able to be of 
 any service to his dearest friend ; this was how 
 Margaret understood him, and how any by- 
 stander would have understood him. But 
 Charles Lancaster knew his true meaning and 
 felt stabbed to the heart ; he knew as well as 
 though the words had been thundered in his 
 ears, that he was imperatively required in 
 honour henceforth to declare himself engaged to 
 Margaret Brenton and never either byword or 
 thought, to indulge his ardent passion for 
 Clara. But he now began almost to rejoice in 
 the Httle command he had over his own soul, 
 for he felt that no desire of his own could ever
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 7 
 
 check the manifestation of its feelings — the 
 deepening colour of his eyes as he gazed 
 on her — the dumb language of his palm when 
 it touched hers. 
 
 But loviog Clara would not relieve him from 
 his embarrassments, and, indeed, deprived him 
 of the only feasible means of satisfying them ; 
 for it quite drove away from his thoughts the 
 idea of marrying the young lady, who was 
 forty years of age, who had money, and who 
 admired him. Full of the moody, but by no 
 means despairing thoughts which arose ii^om 
 his debts, he found his chief solace in riding 
 about to the distant quarters of the' estate. 
 
 And all this time Mr. Brenton, senior, 
 watched what was going on, like the chorus 
 in a Greek play. He praised, and blamed, 
 and often prophesied ill from the deep fore- 
 boding at his heart. He began to feel as 
 though there were some fatality, by which he 
 was condemned always to remain isolated in 
 the midst of the busy world, and as though 
 every affection were destined to fall away 
 
 /'
 
 8 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 from him, as the morning vapour falls away 
 from the hill side when the day grows on 
 apace. And so, thrusting away from his 
 heart, with a remorseless hand, all idea of self, 
 he resolved henceforward only to watch over 
 and protect the happiness he could not share. 
 He was deeply grieved at the position in 
 which matters stood xnth the young people. 
 He was far from willing to trust his son with 
 Clara's life happiness ; and he saw, moreover, 
 that Charles Lancaster loved her with his first 
 true love. As far as Margaret was concerned, 
 he was so much in the habit of considering 
 her as utterly cold and proud, that he never 
 associated with her any idea of passion or 
 feeling.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Henry Brenton's aiFairs at length became so 
 desperate, that he could not refrain from 
 brooding over the advantages of marrying the 
 rich, but passe young lady. He entertained no 
 idea of marrying her — none in the world ; but 
 to do so would be so ready a means of reliev- 
 ing him from all his embarrassments, that he 
 loved to have the possibility always appa- 
 rent. In the latter part of the winter, 
 therefore, he visited much at Farley Court, 
 and pressed his suit with a kind of haughty 
 impetuosity, exactly suited to attract and
 
 10 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 please her to whom it was directed. He had 
 just returned from a long ride with the lady, 
 during which matters had progressed so far, 
 that he experienced great difficulty in steering 
 clear of the point at which it would have been 
 necessary to make some decided declaration ; 
 and was standing, in meditative mood, before 
 the blazing wood fire in the hall, when a calm 
 and rather musical voice said, behind him — 
 '' You are in debt." 
 
 Henry Brenton turned round, without any 
 sign of surprise, and quietly looked at the 
 utterer of this rather abrupt declaration, whom 
 he found to be a middle-aged man, of gentle- 
 manly appearance, whom he recognized at 
 once as a frequent visitor at Farley Court — 
 but of whom he knew nothing, except that 
 his name was Simpson, and that he appeared 
 to be very much in the heiress's confidence. 
 " Some friend of the family," I suppose," he 
 muttered to himself, " whom I shall have either 
 to bribe or bully, to prevent his interfering." 
 
 After a slight pause, he resolved on the
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 11 
 
 attitude he would assume, and said — "Yes, 
 Mr. Simpson, I am in debt." 
 
 The stranger gave him one long look, and 
 then, as though he had come to some sudden 
 resolution, replied — " My name is not Simp- 
 son, but Montonari ; and I think I might 
 show you how to escape from your difficulties, 
 by a pleasanter method than marrying a per- 
 son against whose appearance your whole soul 
 revolts." 
 
 And so the two dark-browed men unfolded 
 their scheme together. Yes ! unfolded it 
 together, for Henry Brenton could never be 
 second in aught that was bold and cruel. We 
 are writing a true history and cannot tell what 
 this scheme was but from its results. 
 
 " Fly with me ! Clara ! Let us away ! 
 See you not how wide the world is beneath 
 the twilight ! Feel we not ever and ever at 
 this hour a longing to speed far — far with 
 those we love ? And shall we not obey the 
 impulse ? " 
 
 Henry Brenton murmured these words as he
 
 12 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 and Clara stood together on the terrace of 
 Brenton Hall watching the satin-like lustrous 
 light and shade of a May twilight. He had 
 already put into practice one part of the Jesuit's 
 scheme, and it was now time for the completion 
 of the other. 
 
 "Fly! Henry!" was all Clara's reply, but 
 it was accompanied by a sweet little laugh 
 which betokened supreme heart happiness, 
 and thoroughly ignored her companion's 
 proposal. 
 
 But from that day she felt a shadow coming 
 over her, slowly isolating her from all who 
 were around her and drawing her closer to 
 Henry Brenton. She was not pained at this, 
 for she loved him truly passionately. But she 
 had been accustomed hitherto to nought but 
 life and happiness ; and at the best, she felt 
 this new strange feeling to be as a cloud. 
 
 " To fly with him ! " she would murmur to 
 herself; and that idea from which she had at 
 first started with such utter surprise, became 
 a constant though unacknowledged guest in 
 her heart.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 13 
 
 He with whom she was now dealing, and, 
 unknoAvn to herself, contending, had a dark 
 and subtle spirit; he knew woman's heart 
 well, and never again asked Clara to fly with 
 him. He knew that no word from the lips of 
 the beloved ene passes from the loving heart 
 till it has borne some fruit. 
 
 May had passed into June, magnificent with 
 light and' heat, and the cattle stood knee-deep 
 in the stream beneath the arches of the rustic 
 bridge, and the horse-chestnut trees were lit 
 with all their waxen blossoms, as cathedral 
 altars are with tapers on a fete day, and the 
 summer lightnings played amongst the hills 
 behind the far off windmill. 
 
 And all this time Margaret Brenton's life 
 was like the awaking fi'ora slumbers when 
 the mind feels that it has some sorrow to 
 bear but forgets, for a moment, what it is. 
 She refused to acknowledge to herself how 
 great the sorrow was. And Charles Lancaster's 
 life was like that of a bird that is too far at sea 
 and has fallen into some vessel's wake, and 
 cannot escape from it.
 
 14 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 Sometimes when the soul has grown so 
 accustomed to a state of sorrow that it begins 
 to regard its weight as a necessary circum- 
 stance of existence, a sudden thought will 
 come to it that perhaps after all its inevitable 
 nature is but apparent and that by an effort 
 the delusion may be thrown to the winds. 
 Such a revival of hope generally approaches in 
 the garb of some slight physical circumstance, 
 such as the scent of some well-loved flower, or 
 the chiming of a bell, or something that 
 strikes the eye as being peculiar in the dis- 
 position of the furniture of a room. 
 
 It was afternoon ; there had been a shower, 
 but the clouds were now torn into rough- 
 edged fleecy fragments about the pure blue 
 sky ; and Charles Lancaster wandered amongst 
 the garden alleys moodily, feeling as though 
 no power could raise him from his despondency. 
 Suddenly a blackbird alighted amidst the 
 green leaves of a spray at a little distance in 
 front of him, shaking down a beautiful minia- 
 ture likeness of the late shower, and swelling
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 15 
 
 his black throat against the distant blue. It 
 was the most ordinary circumstance in the 
 world but there was something in it which 
 extraordinarily changed the current of the 
 young man's feelings and made him pause. 
 " How easy it would be, even now," he mur- 
 mured to himself, " to persuade Clara of the 
 depth and passion of his love, and thus win 
 her to return it ! " Then, as one who walks 
 in his sleep he hurried along, with a swift 
 cautious step, searching for Clara. 
 
 In one part of the grounds there was an 
 open green plot in the centre of which an 
 ancient cedar stood or rather reclined, for it 
 was bowed almost to the ground by age and 
 storms, and was now supported by a large iron 
 chain to a stalwart post. 
 
 And there stood — Clara. 
 
 The timid, earnest expression which Charles 
 Lancaster's countenance usually wore in the 
 presence of this girl, had given place now to a 
 stern and almost savage one, and walking 
 straight up to her, directly he saw where she
 
 16 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 was, he began abi'uptly to pour forth his 
 passion. And Clara listened with a smile, for 
 at this season whatever in all the universe 
 spoke of love, her heart attributed to Henry 
 Brenton. And he who spake knew what that 
 glow of happiness meant and grew fran ic at 
 the sight. It was like a mirage of sweet 
 waters mocking the traveller's thirst. His 
 vows grew nigh to imprecations, and his 
 despair to curses. And at length his object 
 seemed to be gained, and she whom he 
 addressed grew pale and gazed at him with 
 eyes of the most beseeching earnestness. And 
 her lips ,;' ted. A moment more and he 
 would hear her utte^' his name if not in 
 accents of love at If in those of passion. 
 That instant of suspense was exquisite hap- 
 piness. Bi,. her lips refuse to speak and it is 
 beyond and not at him that she is looking, and 
 as he turns, there he sees Margaret lying with 
 her head and arm on the slanting stem of the 
 cedar, just in that stage of fainting when 
 fainting is pain, and the cruel anger of his
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTOX. 17 
 
 look revives her, she half rises, all her woman's 
 
 pride is gone, and she would utter she 
 
 knows not what ! Perchance, cry aloud in her 
 agony for mercy ! 
 
 He was. stricken with despair at the very 
 momjnt of the beginning of hope — and no one 
 ever knew how it was, but the polished gentle- 
 man, the man of refined education and fine 
 susceptibilities, had, by a few incoherent ex- 
 clamations, paralysed, almost annihilated, the 
 strong-minded, yet tender-hearted woman, 
 who, even in that moment, would have gloried 
 in sacrificing her life for his love. Margaret 
 Brenton fell almost a corpse, gras^ g his feet. 
 
 At that moment the group became conscious 
 of the sudden pres ., as though he had 
 arisen by some dark magic, of Henry Brenton. 
 There he stood — no smile on .lis lips, no 
 question asked, but a smile of triumph paraded 
 his whole attitude and bearing. He made no 
 attempt to avenge his sister. He felt that his 
 cruel, cold gaze sufficiently crushed the cow- 
 eiing man before him. To see this calamitous 
 
 VOL. II. C
 
 18 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 scene, the result of the happiness which Charles 
 and Margaret had snatched when he himself was 
 still alone in his selfishness, was a dehght to 
 his bad heart he scarcely liked to own to him- 
 self. He drew Clara away, persuading her that 
 Charles and Margaret were best left alone. 
 
 This was the first bitter trouble Clara had 
 ever had ; for the death of old Sir John had 
 rather been a surprise to her than a pain — rather 
 an awakening to a new world of life and 
 thought, than a forced experience of the mor- 
 tality of this. But the excitement of what 
 had just occurred made her whole being quiver 
 with pain, and when she paused with her com- 
 panion on the terrace, and gazed at the far 
 blue of the distance, her heart echoed the 
 words she had once so carelessly heard there — 
 "Let us fly!" 
 
 Henry Brenton knew that his moment was 
 come, and he pressed his suit with an ardour 
 which would not be denied. And Clara was 
 about to fly with him, yielding to the mere 
 emotion and fascination of the moment, when 
 something in her lover's look and tone so
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 19 
 
 forcibly reminded her of the elder Mr. Brenton 
 that all the feelings of respect and gratitude 
 she felt for the latter rose up to repel the idea. 
 
 " Then, Clara, I must tell you what I should 
 have told, ^you before. I have joined the 
 Catholic Church. You ^know what my father's 
 opinions are, and how unlikely it is that he will 
 permit you to marry me ! " 
 
 Clara knew what Mr. Brenton's opinions 
 were, and that he would both be deeply 
 distressed at his son's change of faith, and 
 most probably refuse, on that account, to con- 
 sent to their union. But she knew her own 
 power over the stern man, and resolved that 
 the effect of arguments and entreaties should 
 first be tried. 
 
 Then the wrath of the violent man beside 
 her was aroused, burning with that white heat 
 which is so terrible that the beholder is grateful 
 for any spark of fire that relieves it. He 
 grasped her hand in his and told her with cruel 
 abruptness, true to his ruthless nature, that he 
 must fly alone then ; and he continued to 
 
 c 2
 
 20 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 speak in an over-clear whisper of deeds 
 abstracted, and lands sold, and of craft 
 upon craft that must now inevitably come 
 to light. 
 
 I am not writing Clara's story, but my own, 
 and may only say here that Clara fled with 
 Henry Brenton. 
 
 The news of Clara's marriage with his son, 
 
 and the discovery of that son's misdoings, 
 
 reached Mr. Brenton, senior, pretty nearly at 
 
 the same time ; and from that moment he was 
 
 as one who has just been roused from a long 
 
 sleep and is not yet thoroughly awake. There 
 
 was a questioning look in his eyes and a 
 
 clutching attitude in his hands. 
 
 « « # « 
 
 So much have I thought it advisable to 
 insert here respecting events which, although 
 occurring before I was born, had a most vital 
 influence on my own life and fortunes. Their 
 results will appear in the course of my own 
 story, to which, with many apologies to my 
 readers for so long an episode, I will now 
 return.
 
 HOKATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 21 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 My mother having found Gosport incon- 
 venient, had removed near Fareham, and the 
 yellow chariot was at the ' George,' ready to 
 convey me to the house. I respectfully, but 
 earnestly, begged the captain to accompany 
 me. He hesitated — " My good fellow, this is 
 all very fine, but we have much to think 
 about ; I can spare you, but I have serious 
 duties, which compel me to suspend my visit. 
 And besides, I could not witness your sacred 
 meetings, I should be in the way sadly." And 
 with a very low bow, he added, " I am not yet 
 oflScially invited." Then he added, "You
 
 22 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 have leave for forty-eight hours." Then 
 closed the discussion, and bowed, — oiF I 
 flew. 
 
 Luckily he did not come ! How tame, more 
 than tame, to a bystander to witness such in- 
 tense feeling as was displayed by my mother, 
 sister, and Ellen. The rector and doctor held 
 aloof until dinner time, and their appearance 
 touched even my hard heart. 
 
 "Well, Horatio, you have served your 
 time." 
 
 "No, I am not nineteen until May, 1813, 
 and by the present regulation cannot pass 
 until then." 
 
 •. " What a shame ! No one ever dreamed 
 about age ; we had been informed that so 
 soon as you had served six years, you were 
 eligible." 
 
 " No, not yet ; and it would be of little use, 
 as I have not any title to preferment ; we have 
 only once seen an enemy, and had a chance of 
 nibbling. Three great line-of-battle ships took 
 all the credit, which I must say they deserved ;
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 23 
 
 they took the hammering. I never shall forget 
 that Defiance. I must join Captain H. some 
 day, they say he is one of our patterns. " 
 
 How they pulled me about, declared I had 
 grown immensely, and other customary obser- 
 vations, I need scarcely tell, except that it 
 seemed to annoy Ellen, who observed : — 
 
 " If you grow much older I shall give you 
 up ; you are too big now to require a cham- 
 pion, I shall burn my gauntlets." 
 
 '^ Give them to me, pray do." 
 
 " And pray what will you do with them? " 
 
 " Answer me — May I one day be your 
 champion ? " 
 
 " When I resign my trust, I will constitute 
 you my champion ; but, Horatio, that will be 
 a day of deep sorrow to you, as well as to my- 
 self, and you cannot learn why, until that fatal 
 packet is unsealed." 
 
 Charlotte observed that these mysterious 
 packets tended very much to damp our present 
 enjoyments. But Ellen differed, and said, 
 "Not at all, because she believed that it would 
 most materially aid my future interests."
 
 24 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 But mamma inquired — 
 
 "Why did not the captain accompany you?" 
 
 " Duty detains him ; and as far as I can 
 understand, he was not properly invited. The 
 chiefs of the ocean are very sensitive of being 
 made nobody, when they condescend to put 
 foot on shore. You must invite him, not send 
 a message by a post-boy." 
 
 Every one was astonished that they had all 
 so far forgotten themselves. But the doctor 
 very jocosely said : — 
 
 " Mr. Formality there is playing off the 
 great man ; I will undertake to set all right, 
 and be the bearer of the invitation — but from 
 whom ? " Here was another puzzler. 
 
 Mamma observed, " I will send it, I have 
 no scruples." So the note was written, and 
 was to be delivered by the doctor, for I had 
 not then warned them that I had forty-eight 
 hours' leave. He would return that night. 
 
 I viewed the party this evening,, and thought 
 all very much improved. My mother strong 
 and more decided in character ; Charlotte was
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 25 
 
 growing beyond mere beauty, it was too much 
 the majestic queen to please me. But Ellen was 
 the same perfect creature I had ever known 
 her, tmted, I thought, by a melancholy oppres- 
 sion, as she sometimes contemplated me with a 
 fixed, intense gaze. And yet the mystery could 
 not, she informed me, be dissolved before I was 
 twenty-one, possibly twenty-five! That de- 
 pended upon her will and pleasure. 
 
 Louisa waited to catch me as I went to bed, 
 and crushed me almost in her wild joy. She 
 was more matronly, and had shipped a cap, 
 which spoiled her entirely. 
 
 Time is short — so I was up betimes, and 
 inspected the house, to which I was informed 
 much land would fall in, at the expiration of 
 ten years, as a foreclosure on a mortgage not 
 likely to be redeemed was almost inevitable, 
 and was even now to be obtained by some trivial 
 fine which Ellen's lawyer was managing. 
 
 The house, originally a mere cottage, was 
 now expanding its wings, and was soon to take 
 another flight — like some corvettes built into 
 donkey-frigates ; but, in this case, rising to an
 
 26 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 eighty-gun ship, with her fancy galleries over 
 each wing, and a village or barrack-yard he- 
 hind, with bachelor's rooms, constituting a 
 very large establishment with coach-houses, 
 stables, and offices. 
 
 What she was at no one could imagine, for 
 under no present condition could they be 
 tenantable. Could she dream of marrying ? — 
 that was a painful thought. To whom would 
 she now resign her liberty ? No, she had 
 almost hinted to me that she was barred from 
 marriage — at all events, until I was of age. 
 It occurred to me that she had made some 
 rash vow, and waited with anxiety to see the 
 other party marry, and thus absolve her. 
 
 After breakfast, she took me the round of 
 the visitable portion of her acquaintance ; and 
 took occasion to made these visits the occasion 
 of bantering me much on my general coldness to 
 young ladies, even some we had just seen with 
 no mean pretension to beauty. But I observed 
 that, with her, and a sister and cousin, I had 
 no room for any interloper. This seemed to 
 please her, and she very drily remarked —
 
 HORATIO HOAYARD BRENTON. 27 
 
 " I have never extracted a promise from 
 you, and vpill not ; but I should like to be 
 consulted — and, by way of warning, I must 
 inform you, that not an individual of the 
 family Avould recognize any nearer attachment 
 between you and Fanny. There is an insuper- 
 able bar ; and, therefore, she has been re- 
 ceived and allowed to treat you as a sister, and 
 will be so through life. I know that, in many 
 cases, such bars only excite the parties more 
 to rebel; but I have better hopes of you." 
 
 " Ellen, I never promise heedlessly ; but, if 
 you simply assert that I could not honourably 
 marry Fanny in your view, I do promise never 
 to entertain any such idea. I never have loved 
 her more than a very dear sister, and I think 
 my habit of self-command will deter me from 
 losing my heart until I am in a condition to 
 make the person who may prefer me, at all 
 events, happy in prospect. My twenty-fifth 
 year is time enough to think seriously of such 
 an event." 
 
 On bidding good night, on the second even-
 
 28 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 ing of my short visit at home, I was compelled 
 reluctantly to say — 
 
 " I must return to my ship to-morrow early, 
 and, therefore, breakfast before six." 
 
 " You shall ; Charlotte and I will breakfast 
 with you, and pack you off. Say no more 
 about it." 
 
 And, in short, I was at the 'George,' in 
 that yellow-coloured chariot, before seven — 
 called on the captain, and found him dressing 
 for a court-martial. 
 
 " Come, Howard, you must breakfast with 
 me. I was almost saying I was uneasy, but 
 I should have been less easy had you stuck to 
 your limited time. I would not, for any con- 
 sideration, have you absent to-day. It is a 
 most painful case to me. I have refused to 
 deal with it in any shape, or even to hear it 
 related ; and you will never, by word or deed, 
 open the subject in my presence. Have you 
 ever been present at a court-martial ?" 
 
 " Never, sir." 
 
 " Then, you must most narrowly watch
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 29 
 
 every part of the proceeding to-day — after 
 which I must make you read the best works on 
 naval courts-martial. You will then understand 
 that the matter tried is a sealed subject to the 
 members, and any allusion to it in my pre- 
 sence, or any observation from you intimating 
 even a suspicion of any opinion I might form, 
 would not only prejudice my character, but 
 greatly prejudice yours in the eyes of honour- 
 able men. 
 
 ^' And now — one of the prisoners is, I un- 
 derstand, youi' friend. Lieutenant Saumaurez 
 — no remark. Breakfast, Steward," 
 
 " I have breakfasted at six ; nevertheless, 
 I shall be glad of a cup of tea to keep you 
 company, sir." 
 
 "Thank you, Howard — I feel the compli- 
 ment. Never forget that any kind of refusal 
 clogs the v.'heels of good fellowship, provided 
 the object is reasonable ; not a drinking bout, 
 or drunken carousal — that degrades. Those 
 pseudo friends must be avoided." 
 
 At nine I was on board, as barge midship-
 
 30 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 man, another ' mid ' taking the boat back ; 
 indeed, I was merely in ohSiYgQ pro formd. 
 
 The court was formed of one admiral and 
 six captains. The prisoner was Lieutenant 
 Saumaurez. The court was duly sworn, and I 
 now found that each member solemnly swore 
 that " he would not reveal the vote or opinion 
 of any member of that court, unless thereunto 
 required by act of parliament," &c. 
 
 The charge against the prisoner was — that 
 he, the said Lieutenant Saumaurez, had dis- 
 obeyed the lawful written commands of his 
 said captain — had exhibited symptoms of 
 cowardice and disaffection before the enemy ; 
 and, contrary to the rules, customs, and regu- 
 lations of the naval service, had been present 
 at the mess-table, as the superior officer, when 
 the orders of his captain had been ridiculed 
 and commented on, and that he had not in 
 his person and place used any means to pre- 
 vent the same, but had, moreover, coun- 
 tenanced, by certain expressions, the said 
 disaffection. Finally, that he had, unbecoming
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 31 
 
 the character of an officer, denied being pre- 
 sent at any such offences, and concealed the 
 same." 
 
 I regretted to observe that commanders and 
 lieutenants made themselves very conspicuous 
 in aiding the prisoner, particularly upon the 
 points of mess-table discussion. And I noticed 
 the president and captains taking notes, and 
 passing very significant bits of paper, which 
 some pocketed, others tore to the minutest 
 shreds. 
 
 His captain prosecuted He was very mild — 
 bland — and very much distressed. He sel- 
 dom asked a question but to the point. Every 
 fact was clearly and distinctly proven — and 
 every one wondered that the prisoner could 
 persist. Still his knot hung around him — no 
 egress was permitted on that side — so that each 
 had to pass behind the president; until at 
 length the president, after a written paper was 
 handed in by the officer of the court, ordered 
 three officers to withdraw under the charge of 
 the officer of the guard.
 
 32 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 The defence would occupy four hours ; that 
 was granted, and the court cleared. It was 
 thought that they would adjourn — but this 
 they did not appear to incline to, as I found, 
 by my orders respecting the barge, confidential. 
 
 The court re-assembled. The prisoner read 
 his defence, descanting much on the mode by 
 which the captain gained his evidence (viz., 
 by the master-at-arms and serjeant of marines, 
 and servants), which set forth that such open 
 defiance of authority tended to mutiny, by its 
 becoming, through the servants, the general 
 topic on the lower-deck. The master-at-arms 
 had ventured, confidentially, to tell Mr. Sau- 
 maurez, the first-lieutenant, and the latter had 
 ventured to threaten him with his vengeance. 
 The prisoner submitted to the honourable court, 
 that the conversation at the mess-table was not 
 cognizable at a court-martial, and that no 
 proof had been adduced, excepting by ser- 
 vants, that he was present, heard, or joined 
 in, the remarks ; and that, if he had, 
 Avithout such direct yroof^ the captain was
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 33 
 
 bound to believe him in preference, and had, 
 indeed, grossly insulted him by these proceed- 
 ings. He had witnesses ready to substantiate 
 all he had asserted. 
 
 The court was cleared, and in a few moments 
 re-assembled, ordering '^lights, and to send the 
 barges' crews for their suppers." The knot 
 held together apparently in triumph — little 
 did they suspect the mine ! 
 
 " Prisoner," said the president, " you will 
 call your witnesses." 
 
 Lieutenant sworn — deposed that he 
 
 was present when the conversation, stated in the 
 charge, took place — was sure that the prisoner, 
 although present, did not hear it, and never 
 heard him make any remark. 
 
 Prosecutor. — " Did the master-at-arms re- 
 port the lights at that moment ?" 
 
 " He did." 
 
 " That you recollect?" 
 
 '' Yes — perfectly." 
 
 *' Did the prisoner or you go to the 
 rounds?" 
 
 VOL. II. D
 
 34 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 " The prisoner ordered me. He remained." 
 
 The president bowed to the court, " I think 
 he may retire" — all bowed. 
 
 " Officer of the court ! all witnesses to be 
 kept asunder under charge of a separate sen- 
 tinel." 
 
 " Now, prisoner, it is getting very late, be 
 kind enough to name those on whom you rely 
 to rebut this particular charge, as the others 
 may be permitted to retire until the court 
 adjourns." 
 
 " I have only three other lieutenants, and 
 the marine officers." 
 
 " Separate those officers. Call the third- 
 lieutenant." 
 
 Sworn. 
 
 '' What are you prepared to depose, sir ?" 
 
 " That I was present, sir." 
 
 "It is my duty to warn you that you are 
 not compelled to criminate yourself. You can 
 now proceed." 
 
 He faltered, did criminate himself, and re- 
 tired. The others, having been closely watched 
 and Q:uarded, did the same.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 35 
 
 " Have you any more evidence — any as to 
 character?" 
 
 " None but Captain Lofty." 
 
 " Do you call upon Captain Lofty ?" 
 
 " Yes, sif." 
 
 Captain Lofty stood up, addressed the pre- 
 sident, and said — 
 
 " I alwa-ys give my officers their full merits 
 on paper ; I decline committing myself beyond. 
 Whatever I have written I will substantiate." 
 
 The Prisoner. — " I have nothing more to 
 say, I rely on the evidence adduced. I feel 
 deeply impressed with the consideration which 
 this honourable court has given to my case ; 
 and I fear that I have occupied much valuable 
 time. But when the high professional cha- 
 racter which I bear, having served with credit 
 under one honourable member of the court, is 
 taken into consideration, I trust that I shall 
 leave this court with a reputation rather in- 
 creased than diminished in your estimation." 
 
 He then placed his defence and certificates 
 
 D 2
 
 36 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 before the judge-advocate, who took charge of 
 them, and the court adjourned to deliberate. 
 
 Even I, a lad, could read the mind of every 
 officer of that court, and of the further mis- 
 chief brewing. And yet the friends of the 
 prisoner crowded round him, and in the 
 hearing of the prosecutor (who walked the 
 middle deck alone !) I could hear them say — 
 " You must be acquitted." 
 
 Short were their dreams. The court opened, 
 there was a disposition for a rush. 
 
 The President. — " Keep the court clear." 
 
 Officer of the court. — "All the young officers 
 on duty." 
 
 I was ushered in with others and formed 
 behind the president. 
 
 " All the witnesses and the three officers 
 under charge on the right with the prisoner's 
 adherents." 
 
 First a note was read by the judge-advocate 
 from the officer of the guard, and transmitted 
 to the court through the officer of the court, 
 complaining of three officers by name with
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 37 
 
 having obstructed him in the prosecution of 
 his duty, after refusing them communication 
 with witnesses. The officer was called and 
 informed that a full complaint in writing was 
 to be delivered immediately, before the court 
 dissolved. He delivered it at once to the 
 judge-advocate, it was handed to the presi- 
 dent ; the court cleared, read the letter, and 
 the three officers were committed by the presi- 
 dent's warrant for contempt, to await the plea- 
 sure of the Admiralty. The witnesses were 
 mustered by name, and the sentence then read. 
 
 The first charge proved — although not 
 coming within the act of cowardice — all the 
 others proved. 
 
 Before passing sentence, the president ob- 
 served — " It is my painful duty to observe 
 that this court cannot but remark on the awful 
 position in which some of the witnesses most 
 wilfully have placed themselves. Punishment 
 is not within its province. And further : the 
 court cannot forbear giving it as their opinion, 
 that much of this results from the marked
 
 38 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 injudicious participation, they would almost 
 call it, of the prisoner's personal friends. 
 
 " And now, prisoner, after a most patient 
 trial — one in which the court trusts it has af- 
 forded you every assistance, it is my bounden 
 duty simply to pronounce, not its sentence 
 only, but that which the offended laws of your 
 country alone dictate. It is my painful duty 
 to pronounce. That you are dismissed His 
 Majesty's service, and rendered incapable to 
 serve in any place or office in the naval service 
 of his Majesty, his heirs, and successors ; and 
 you are hereby so sentenced accordingly." 
 
 The prisoner bowed deep. "I acknowledge 
 the justice of my sentence." 
 
 Then turning round to his clique. 
 
 " Fools that you were to deceive me !" 
 
 He caught my eye. 
 
 " Oh, Howard ! will you forgive me ? Will 
 you apologize to Captain Lofty ? — you know 
 my meaning." 
 
 "I do." 
 
 " Would he receive a letter ?" 
 
 " Trv "
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTOX. 39 
 
 ,^-" CHAPTER IV. 
 
 When the court had broken up, the captain 
 accompanied me home. He was very low. 
 It was late, and Salmond and Dr. Reed joined 
 us in the evening. We then learned that the 
 Amelia was to sail on Monday, three days 
 hence. The captain excused himself, ran to 
 the admiral, who had sent for him, and 
 rejoined us. 
 
 " All right ; make your arrangements — we 
 have no time to spare. I shall be absent 
 forty-eight hours — possibly less. Have all 
 ready Sunday evening, and all letters here." 
 Turning to me — " Now, Howard, the carriage 
 is ready."
 
 40 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 His servant packed his portmanteau under 
 the seat, and we reached Fareham, or rather 
 Portsdown Range, in time for tea, which they 
 had purposely deferred, thinking we might be 
 mad enough, as the doctor reported at dinner, 
 to run away from the court-martial. 
 
 The reception of the captain was most 
 affectionate. Ellen received him almost as a 
 sister — too openly to admit of his being an 
 admirer. 
 
 He was as much a child in that wonderful 
 woman's hands as myself! 
 
 The fun of the evening was soon marred by 
 the news of our early departure, and the un- 
 expected question which the doctor put to me 
 as to the fate of Saumaurez. 
 
 " Knew it," he observed ; " only wonder he 
 had escaped so long." 
 
 I frowned very painfully, and he would not 
 take my hint, until he asked, "Are you 
 unwell ? " 
 
 " No, but I want your advice ; your fee 
 Ellen must settle."
 
 nOKATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 41 
 
 He laughed, consented, and we retired. I 
 then informed him how he was torturing the 
 captain, being one of the members. 
 
 "Right!" he exclaimed; "we civilians 
 never dream of your martial laws. I will not 
 offend again. Come along," and we returned. 
 "Wants your advice most, Ellen," he replied. 
 " Mine ? oji, he shall have it ;" so we retired, 
 when I also put her on her guard, and also to 
 find some more interesting subject for conver- 
 sation. 
 
 We passed the remainder of the evening most 
 agreeably, and, but for the interest which I 
 suspected to exist for a party absent, I should 
 have imagined that the captain and Charlotte 
 were making desperate love to each other. 
 But knowing what I did, and guessing what I 
 did, I did not fail to discover that Captain 
 Lofty spoke to Ellen through Charlotte, and 
 that Charlotte was thinking of Captain Noble, 
 while she flirted with his friend. She had 
 not, it is true, made any enquiry after Noble, 
 but I could perceive the keen attention with
 
 42 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 which she regarded any aUusion to him. 
 I asked the captain if he had heard of 
 him. 
 
 " Not lately," he replied. "I had letters, 
 requesting me to direct to him at Jamaica. 
 He expected to finish the affair with Lord 
 Cochrane, at Basque Roads, from which he 
 would go direct to the West Indies." 
 
 I had now seen the colour come and go too 
 unmistakeably to admit of further doubt ; and 
 I thought that Ellen looked rather severely at 
 me. Still all was surmise, and the conversa- 
 tion of Captain Lofty might have produced the 
 very same results. 
 
 The rector and doctor had very little to 
 say, and my mother appearing to require ex- 
 citement, I dropped on the sofa beside her. 
 
 '' Well, you truant, off again on Monday ; 
 really the pain of meeting and parting far ex- 
 ceeds the pleasure resulting from such flying 
 visits. But another year will, I trust, afford 
 you time to spend at least a month with us, 
 and I may then be induced to find you more
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 43 
 
 entertainment than my present low spirits can 
 afford. I should much wish your next visit 
 may be to the rectory, and that you may be 
 able to travel to your father's and grandfather's 
 old property, and look into the rights by 
 which the present occupiers hold, I recollect 
 some very strong remarks made by your 
 late father, - that he had not damaged your 
 rights, if you succeeded to one particular 
 estate, which would carry the others ; but we 
 must patiently await the terms of law, and the 
 will I fancy also of your guardian angel. 
 When do you quit us ? Captain Lofty, when 
 do you purpose that Horatio shall depart ? " 
 
 " On Sunday night he must be at my lodg- 
 ings, or before seven on Monday morning. I 
 will give him breakfast. I must return to- 
 morrow night myself, before eight." 
 
 "You have only to intimate your wishes 
 here, and they will be obeyed ; we are now 
 too well aware of the calls upon your time, to 
 be so selfish as to ask for more indulsjence to 
 us than to other friends. But I must ask, as
 
 44 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 a favour, that, where time is so precious, you 
 will make the most of it, by coming — as I 
 think you must be aware, will always confer 
 the favour on us (should we not be able to 
 send an invitation) — as a privileged friend." 
 
 " Indeed I will, madam ; but I had very 
 urgent business and reasons, as well as a dis- 
 like to intrusion, at critical moments, when I 
 made that unfortunate speech to Horatio. I 
 have, I hope" — turning to Ellen — "suffi- 
 ciently explained my meaning, and she will 
 satisfy you I was right." 
 
 " I will," she replied, " at a more con- 
 venient time." 
 
 We met at breakfast, after which Captain 
 Lofty, Ellen, and myself, with the doctor, 
 sallied out to Fareham, to call upon some 
 professional friends, and to enlarge the list — 
 as he termed it — of my future patrons. But 
 few of the naval men were at home, as the 
 ladies observed — ' This court-martial has car- 
 ried them all to town.' All seemed to think 
 the prisoner deserved worse. Not one pitied.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 45 
 
 Women seldom do, I have noticed, if want 
 of courage and mischief-making are clearly 
 proved. But there was worse stirring, they 
 hinted ; and, when we were on our journey 
 home. Captain Lofty seemed to be very 
 happy to be away, and hinted at sailing on 
 Sunday evening, or before any flags could 
 detain him. on Monday morning. 
 
 " So much mischief does one bad sheep 
 breed, my Horatio," said Ellen to me, as we 
 were left alone at home, " I am not astonished 
 now at your spirited defence of your captain 
 against, if I recollect, this same officer's slan- 
 derous insinution to our curate." 
 
 " The very same, and yet he had the im- 
 pudence to talk of his own professional cha- 
 racter^ and the meanness to vaunt of serving 
 under Captain Lofty, and to call upon him 
 to support his character !" 
 
 " Impossible, Horatio !" 
 
 " Too true ; and the captain simply referred 
 the court to the written testimonials which he 
 had given him, and which he was prepared to 
 justify "
 
 46 HOBATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 " Indeed, Horatio !" 
 
 " Yes ; but he had none bnt the plain ser- 
 vice one. Still, many captains do foolishly 
 go beyond the truth to help a man forward, 
 believing him better than he merits, and Cap- 
 tain Lofty might have so committed himself. 
 His crimes might commence only at the period, 
 and for which, he quitted. But crimes proved 
 are seldom covered by common certificates. 
 It might have been more merciful, if Captain 
 Lofty had punished this gentleman by court- 
 martial, on the admiral's rebuke at Halifax. 
 Allowing him to leave his ship with a cer- 
 tificate, Avas in itself a recommendation to 
 another captain. Pluming himself on his self- 
 assumed importance, he joins Captain Noble, 
 who, weaker still, gives him another — deceives 
 the profession, and eventually is the cause — 
 mark my words — of the absolute ruin, not 
 only of himself but of twelve of his own or 
 higher rank ! Is not Captain Lofty right in 
 fleeing from such scenes? — for if ever boy 
 read the faces of men, the court has doomed
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 47 
 
 all the parties directly and indirectly engaged 
 — 'injudicious friends' to solace hiui for the 
 remainder of their days in very quiet retire- 
 ment !" 
 
 " Why, j6u. horrid little prophet !" 
 
 " Such would I expect to meet, if my name 
 went to London under the fatal letter of that 
 court." 
 
 " How dreadful ! and yet you glory in the 
 service." 
 
 " Yes, my dear Ellen, you congratulate 
 yourselves when your gardener wheels out 
 barrows full of weeds. Never will our service 
 maintain its noble character, unless the igno- 
 ble are removed. I am not an advocate /or 
 punishment. Let every man fill his position 
 let him possess the stipend he has earned ; 
 but, beyond all, let him not sully the stream 
 in which we small fry are to sustain ourselves, 
 at the expense of those who are not strong 
 enough to avoid such dreadful influences or 
 opinions, as were attempted to be vindicated 
 before that court-martial. Better remove the
 
 48 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 weed as Captain Lofty or Captain Noble 
 should have done, and not wait until it had 
 spread its roots, so deeply as to confound 
 many others with it, and injure good plants. 
 It is even possible the most guilty will escape. 
 But I cannot but believe that some gene- 
 rous feeling blinded some of the twelve I can 
 count as implicated. By the post, to-mor- 
 row, no less than twelve persons, will, in all 
 probability, lead a quiet life on half-pay ! 
 Opinions so publicly manifested in a bad 
 cause made me shudder, and I momentarily 
 expected (even if illegal) stronger measures — 
 eleven now are under ban of martial law. 
 How many under impartial, or simply named 
 as * injudicious,' do ask Dr. Howard to tell 
 you, for my information at some future day. 
 Well did Captain Lofty wish me to be present 
 — never shall I forget it. It will very much 
 influence my notion of what is, and what is 
 not, mercy. It will warn me how to put my 
 signature to any document which, at any 
 moment, I may be asked to maintain. How
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 49 
 
 I wished to have had my good schoolmaster 
 here. But it would have driven him mad ; this 
 case out-herods Herod. 
 
 " Well, Ellen, even you must perceive how 
 this case bears on the happiness, the comfort, 
 the well-being of not only our profession, of 
 our feelings towards each other, but on the 
 general confidence among officers. How for- 
 tunate this case has been adjudged by seven of 
 the finest characters in our service, and the point 
 so frequently cavilled at, settled now and for 
 ever. But look at home — look at the misery 
 resulting from the act of this firebrand ! How 
 many families will be distracted directly and 
 indirectly, aye, wherever he has associated, by 
 the possibility of pollution. How many parents, 
 relatives, and children, perhaps, at home, will 
 feel the effect of the expression, even of dis- 
 approbation, throughout their generations ! It 
 is awful to contemplate ! Justice is blind, and 
 cannot see the road to mercy ! 
 
 "Let us suppose a case. First, Andrews, one of 
 the injudicious friends, finds himself instead of 
 
 VOL. II. ^ E
 
 50 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 being first-lieutenant of a splendid frigate, 
 enjoying the confidence of a warm-hearted, 
 gallant captain who let him have his own 
 way, and who would have exerted 
 his utmost interest to get him promoted, 
 meets his captain on his quarter-deck on 
 Saturday at noon. The captain is moody — 
 has a cloud on his brow — and such a brow — 
 changed from a lamb's to that of a lion ! He 
 attempts to speak to his Captain, he is stopped 
 by — " I regret, sir, that our intercourse, public 
 as well as private, must cease. There is your 
 discharge, ordered by the Admiralty, your suc- 
 cessor will relieve you in a few minutes, and 1 
 am ordered to remain on board until you quit." 
 The guard-boat now returned bringing the suc- 
 cessor : the late officer got into that boat almost 
 unnoticed, and the frigate proceeded to sea. 
 No one pitied him ! The disapprobation of that 
 exemplary, kind-hearted, and deeply-agitated 
 captain who could scarcely go through his part, 
 is electrically communicated to all hands. No 
 soul volunteered a cheer, and yet no one knew
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 51 
 
 why. An hour before he was cheerfully 
 obeyed; he was now as one who had 
 tumbled overboard ! He went to London, 
 endeavoured to see one of the sea Lords — 
 he was nof at liberty, never was seen — 
 entered the merchant service, and may be 
 now still a lieutenant pining in want and 
 misery, and - his children, instead of being 
 brought up for admirals, possibly before the 
 mast ! Now this is but a parallel of what 
 may happen on Saturday next (and has been 
 in reality !)." 
 
 " And yet, Horatio, you serve ?" 
 " I do, because no honourable man can 
 meet such a fate. The really good men fill 
 up these gaps, and in time we shall be refined ; 
 the rough sailor boys will go to merchantmen, 
 and we shall have that saying well appre- 
 ciated — ' A gentleman, and every inch a 
 seaman.' This, my dear Ellen, is my partK 
 cular reason for wishing to know the fate of 
 all those officers. I wish to know whether 
 my young ideas have been justly formed. 
 
 E 2
 
 52 HOKATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 When I am older I may point my tale without 
 names to establish facts ; I may save some 
 erring messmate by my advice. But if I 
 busied myself now I should be deemed as 
 having some party view. I might justly, 
 perhaps, share their fate ; I must only learn 
 hereafter whether I am harsh or not in my 
 judgment. You can learn all, and from you I 
 need not say how sweetly advice comes !" 
 " And so we are to lose you, on Saturday?" 
 " Yes, and I should not be surpised, on 
 Monday morning, to learn that Spithead was 
 deserted. For they would not like to pursue 
 further trials under the same members, and 
 some few may show their true colours and think 
 madly wish to fall martyrs to the cause. I could 
 collect as much before we left the guard-ship. 
 One intimate friend of our captain, a gallant 
 old blade, will lose his first, that I am sure of, 
 every hair of his beautiful shaggy eyebrows 
 told his mind. How lucky none of our 
 officers were there." 
 
 And now Captain Lofty returned, observing.
 
 . HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 53 
 
 " What can you two serious mortals be 
 about.?" 
 
 "\VTiy, Horatio, you will assume the admiral 
 before you are a lieutenant, if do you not shake 
 off those ominous looks. I have just learned that 
 Noble has fought a gallant action in the West 
 Indies, been promoted in the ship he has 
 captured, and Fitzjames, slightly wounded, is 
 now his first lieutenant, and behaved so well 
 that the admiral intends to promote him, if 
 the Admiralty do not, before any of his own 
 followers. Come, youngster, I see you want 
 to speak, and, therefore, I command it shall 
 be so." 
 
 '' Indeed, Sir ? and regardless of the im- 
 port, you forgive me ? " 
 
 " I do." 
 
 " Then Fitzjames owes all to having served 
 under Captain Lofty, and to the possession 
 of a certificate such as few ofiicers can 
 exhibit." 
 
 The captain turned deadly pale — hesitated, 
 and the blood returning to his cheeks with
 
 54 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 the pride which helped to render his eyes un- 
 naturally brilliant returned the fire. 
 
 " Not more than he deserved, sir ! Every 
 labourer is worthy of his hire. But I think I 
 see a flag — a white flag — on that tree. Oh ! 
 it is a lady's handkerchief. Can you read the 
 signal, Howard?" 
 
 " Oh ! yes, sir, I make it out." 
 
 Tame lions are not to be trusted too far. — 
 So pretending to overhaul this flag of truce I 
 sallied forth to meet Charlotte. 
 
 " Such news, Charlotte ! come along we 
 must take a cruise, and see Ellen's fortifications 
 or barracks. Captain Lofty informs us that 
 Noble has taken a fiigate or post-ship, been 
 promoted into her, and Fitzjames is his first 
 lieutenant." 
 
 " Indeed, Horace how fortunate, not hurt 
 I trust." 
 
 " Oh, no ! — all right. But, Charlotte, you 
 do not seem to rejoice." 
 
 " This figliting, dear Horatio, is a serious 
 business. One must feel a little. And your
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 55 
 
 friend Fitzjames, is he safe too ? You know, 
 I must write, and that instantly, to Fanny to 
 tell his brother the particulars." 
 
 " Well, he is scratched, they say, but not 
 to signify. . >You must be quick to save post." 
 
 I plainly "saw that there was more in it 
 than merely writing to Fanny. She had no 
 inclination to walk longer, and betook herself 
 to Captain Lofty, who unrolled his budget as 
 she committed all to paper, blushing most 
 exquisitely, but seen only by me, on whom 
 she did not deign to cast a glance.. 
 
 Well, I thought, if it should be so, what 
 can I have to say ? I would prefer Noble to 
 Lofty — one would be a sister, the other a 
 step-mother. True, we were getting daily 
 more intimate, but mind governs— he was in 
 the clouds, I was content with earth. How 
 is it that good men — the models of those we 
 associate with — are, from no fault of their 
 own, beloved, respected, admired, and yet 
 they are so cold that we are afraid to handle 
 them ? Their good deeds are hidden, but,
 
 56 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 oh ! how the wicked rejoice, if they perceive 
 some stitch gives way which may expose the 
 imagined blemish beneath ! 
 
 " Come, Horatio, you must pack this letter 
 off for Fanny !" exclaimed Charlotte. 
 
 '' Have you room for a note to the curate?" 
 
 " Oh, yes ! — here is my writing-case at your 
 service — quick ! sit down — not a moment to 
 lose ! Come, Horace, prepare the boy with 
 the pony." 
 
 Well, thinks I to myself, here is another 
 flaw of wind ; there seems to be something 
 doing in the direction of the Rectory. Plenty 
 of time yet. But I have heard — ay, and 
 Noble repeat it, too, now I recollect — that 
 two good eyes, well served, will make a treaty 
 01 carry a fortress, when others are groping 
 in the dark. I am determined to try once 
 more ; Charlotte will never leave me to find 
 out I am too late — but women are very cun- 
 ning, and sometimes very timid. 
 
 Rushing in now for the letter, I met Char- 
 lotte with it in her hand. She snatched up
 
 nOKATIO HOWARD BRENTOX. 57: 
 
 her bonnet quite in diiFerent spirits, packed the 
 boy off, and we resumed our cruizing ground 
 off Ellen's redoubt. I mquired the meaning 
 of all this haste in this house ; but the only- 
 reply was that if it never became useful to me, 
 that Ellen might, perhaps, set up a nunnery, 
 and preside in the palace as Lady Abbess. 
 " But what have I to do with it ?" 
 " Yes, there is the mystery ! Everything 
 is palmed off on you or me. What sins we 
 may have to bear, by-and-bye, I know not ; 
 but they are not likely to arise from want of 
 hospitality, for it is now well ascertained that 
 she has the command of any sum she pleases 
 to give to charities, &c., but never in her 
 name — it is always Howard. Oh ! Horatio, 
 what a blessed life that woman has led ! — and 
 no tongue but blesses her ! Who will she 
 marry ? AYhat a fatal day to us ! But of 
 this she never allows any one to speak. There 
 is some deeply-hidden mystery — even mamma 
 cannot solve." 
 
 "Well, but, Charlotte, who is it you are 
 going to marry?"
 
 58 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 She turned such a sweet, honest look upon 
 me, that I was ashamed to have asked the 
 question. 
 
 '' I marry, Horatio, and never ask your 
 opinion ! I am hurt — indeed, I am ; but 
 I will so far let you into my secret that I 
 intended, as you may be some time absent, to 
 put certain queries before you to-night, after 
 the party separates, which puzzle me, and 
 may possibly lead to such an event at some 
 distant period. But it must be under such 
 strict confidence as a brother only can be 
 admitted to. My eye has been on you as 
 acutely as, I think, you have watched me ; 
 and, if I mistake not, I have puzzled you not 
 a little, you torment ! " 
 
 So we marched home, dressed, and ap- 
 peared at dinner.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 59 
 
 
 J^ 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 After dinner, the captain, leading me quietly 
 out of the room, informingme that " as early 
 on Sunday as I could leave, the better it 
 would suit him." 
 
 "Have yon any bills to pay? Tell me 
 without reserve, and my clerk will execute 
 your commands." 
 
 " Thank you, sir ; my marine and ham- 
 mock-man, six months in advance, and any 
 bills the former has incurred for me. The 
 clerk will also know the mess contribution." 
 
 "That is right, my good fellow! Why,
 
 60 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 you have an older head on your shoulders 
 than I had at your age," 
 
 " Yes, sir ; but possibly you had no Ellen 
 — ^no captain —no first-lieutenant — no Fitz- 
 james — to help you along the rough road." 
 
 ^' True, I had none of these. I once 
 thought I did wrong in permitting you to 
 come a year too soon ; but I find it was not 
 so." 
 
 " On that decision, probably, my fate hinged. 
 Tf I had not left school at that moment, I 
 might have been ruined ! — disgraced." 
 
 " Indeed ! you must tell me that important 
 incident some day. I have no time now. Say all 
 kinds of honest things for me, for I cannot." 
 
 He shook my hand warmly, jumped into 
 the carriage, and was off. 
 
 When I entered the room, they inquired for 
 the captain, and ' Gone ' caused as much 
 uproar as if I had thrown a hand-grenade 
 amongst them. Gone ! Gone ! Gone ! Gone ! 
 in four very different unharmonious tones, 
 resounded very much unlike the tuning-fork,
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. '61 
 
 and the result was as silent as that piece of 
 cold steel. 
 
 " Yes, gone ! He could not brace himself 
 up to a parting. He asked me to say ' every- 
 thing honest' for him, and I am sure you will 
 accept his apology." 
 
 "Well," said Ellen, "I think in a Christian 
 spirit we must forgive him, for he has certainly 
 relieved us, by one smart shock, of protracted 
 pain. He is gone, and may every blessing 
 follow him. 
 
 Amen in tune. 
 
 "Ah!" I observed, "that is more in tune than 
 the very discordant Gone! Gone! Gone! Gone! 
 It was something like the Amelia talking in 
 her native tongue to the Cyhele.^^ 
 
 " It is a pity, the captain did not carry you 
 off too, you plague, we should then have 
 escaped the two miseries in parting at a much 
 cheaper rate," said Ellen. 
 
 " Do you think so ? Would you give up 
 the next twenty-four hours ? " 
 
 " No, I recant, for I mean to make you feel
 
 62 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 all my vexation, tliat you may have cause to 
 remember us. 
 
 " I have a dose for him, too," archly put in 
 Charlotte. 
 
 "Am I to be left out," said mamma. " Upon 
 my word, Horatio, it is very silly indeed, your 
 coming home to tantalize us thus, and Captain 
 Lofty says it must not happen again in his 
 ship ; you must now wait until you get your 
 step, and that there are other boys who have 
 relations." 
 
 " Yes mamma, that has oppressed my mind, 
 but I knew that the captain would not allow 
 me to have my own way. I consider myself 
 here 'on duty.' " 
 
 "Under whose commands?" Ellen enquired. 
 
 " Nobody commands a naval officer on 
 shore, madam ; it • is contrary to the royal 
 regulations. Tyranny is, however, exercised 
 even in this free country." Her very lips 
 threatened me. 
 
 She reddened and said, " Well, sir, as you 
 grow older, I find you become no longer the
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 63 
 
 play-thing, no longer the pet ; take care of 
 that golden chain, it is very tough, very 
 ductile, but it might snap ; no scolding can 
 return it to its pristine condition. I devoutly 
 hoped that ' it might become stronger and 
 heavier as you advanced in experience, but I 
 have strange fears of late." 
 
 Here was a damper! She was in earnest, 
 downright earnest. Well, until we Avere 
 alone, I determined to await the finale, for 
 come it would, I clearly foresaw — so much for 
 ill-timed jokes ! — When men quit their ships, 
 they should leave ship discussions behind them. 
 One unfortunate word requires a volume of 
 explanation ; and if a naval superior be pre- 
 sent, the chances are, you are set down, for 
 your attempt at wit, as one of those despised 
 animals, " a sea lawyer." Here, then, was 
 another self-imposed lesson : — " Leave the 
 ship matters until they are sought, never in- 
 trude them." 
 
 I have never mentioned Lord St. Vincent's 
 maxims, because I was not quite sure they
 
 64 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 were intended to be divulged ; they were 
 couched in abrupt, uncouth, and imperative 
 language, but they were rough diamonds, and 
 as I get them polished, they will leak out in 
 some manner reflected in my mind ; as in 
 the present instance, I decline the entire credit. 
 I have seen and felt the obvious meaning of 
 "Never, sir, discuss naval matters before a 
 woman, unless you wish to be taken for a fool 
 or a coward." Eather strong, my lord, splin- 
 ters will fly, and perhaps may do some good, 
 if well comprehended. But coarseness is not 
 inviting ; the coward may fear the shot. On 
 board the Amelia, when any lad talked big, 
 Haskins would sigh heavily, and exclaim, 
 " Oh, my big brother, I wish he were here." 
 
 Our evening was deliciously passed. How- 
 ever, I had to await my doom. The library 
 of this beautifully adapted cottage had the 
 bows, the gun-room, and the cabin. Ellen 
 motioned towards the cabin — there, like a 
 culprit — but who would not be such a culprit ! 
 I was very significantly commanded by an eye
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 65 
 
 I dared not disobey. The family, somehow or 
 other, got into the bows, and there we were 
 left to fight it out — Charlotte^ the look-out 
 frigate, kept ' a very bright eye ' on us, 
 
 " Well, Horatio, come here — very near me 
 — for we may never meet again ! " This was 
 a broadside I never contemplated. The cruel 
 wretch waited to see the effect ; and, as my 
 topsail fell on the cap, every running rope un- 
 rove, and the carpenter was called to sound the 
 well ; for every man at the guns was paralyzed, 
 and we had paid off so as to expose ourselves 
 to a tremendous raking, second dose. She, 
 instead of wearing and following up her ad- 
 vantage, quietly luffed up, and added — 
 
 " I mean, Horatio, that it has pleased God, 
 thus far, to preserve you from mishap. But I 
 have a strange presentiment that this cruize 
 will be attended with more danger, and I 
 should be sorry that you should leave me 
 without knowing how, with much more than 
 mother's love, I regard you — and I have a claim 
 which neither you, nor your mother, nor any 
 
 VOL. II. F
 
 66 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 other eartlily being but the rector, can under- 
 stand — I claim your respect. — I disdain any 
 obedience or respect which does not flow from 
 the inmost recesses of your heart — and those 
 feelings must flow with purity — no exaction, 
 no mistaken gratitude Away, I will have 
 none of it ! I have devoted my life to you, 
 do not shorten it by becoming less the idol I 
 have raised. Yes, you are at present formed 
 from your cradle by me, and I am proud of 
 my work. But, oh, God! punish not my 
 sin — if it should be such in this world — if, in 
 my motives, I have mistaken my duty." 
 
 She ceased ; we both shed enough tears to 
 satisfy ourselves that we were in earnest. 
 
 She resumed : — " And now, Horatio, let 
 me pursue my injunctions or advice ; but I 
 feel very inadequate to do so now. How- 
 ever, let me only say, that your quick, 
 generous replies, when they have no hidden 
 sting, delight me; but the wit of pretty 
 speeches, unmeaning nothings, or compli- 
 ments — much as you may intend, them to
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 67 
 
 be agreeable — simply hit my shield, and fall 
 despised. 
 
 " That you love me as you should and tell, 
 me in private, will never offend me ; but our 
 feelings, my Horatio, are of too sacred a cha- 
 racter — as you will have yet to learn — to ren- 
 der them the subject of ridicule to strangers, 
 or others than ourselves ; and the very pecu- 
 liar position which I hold as regards your 
 mother, renders it still more important, until 
 you, upon opening the sealed packet, on attain- 
 ing your majority, perceive that more than 
 ordinary caution should be observed. She is 
 already jealous, and feels naturally that there 
 has been a want of confidence, on the part 
 of your father, by entrusting me with your 
 guardianship." 
 
 " Oh, Horatio ! this is the distressing point ! 
 point! But will you believe me — will you 
 trust me when I say that two or more short 
 years wiU elucidate all ? Tlien you will be 
 able — having your eyes open — to act as a man, 
 supported by a woman — by still your own Ellen. 
 
 F 2
 
 68 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 " I would not breathe a vapour of blame on 
 your mother — she is totally unconnected, as if 
 you were not her child ; and yet it is a 
 melancholy truth that she was not a proper 
 person to have any control over you. For 
 that, and for other sufficiently good reasons, 
 your future weal and woe were entrusted to me. 
 And I have, as you almost know, given up 
 woman's privilege to select her own happiness, 
 and given my pledge to remain single — aye, 
 for ever — until I see your happiness sealed or 
 accomplished. 
 
 " I have now revealed more than I intended, 
 I am satisfied that you comprehend me, and if 
 you promise to treat me as your second mother, 
 and cease compliments, which pain me, I shall 
 be relieved from one great source of anxiety." 
 
 " Oh ! indeed, my more than mother, I do." 
 
 And I was, again, a very infant ! 
 
 My readers may have sometimes, during 
 the perusal of my narrative have felt inclined 
 to ask with respect to the relations between 
 my mother and myself, '' But where are the
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 69 
 
 mother's feelings?" True; but, she never 
 knew she had a son till Ellen formed him. 
 He was left to the nurse, to the stable, and to 
 Ellen, on whose apparent charity the family 
 existed, until I went to sea ! 
 
 "Now, Horace, we are again in Divan. 
 And as you are to be killed, it is incumbent 
 that you make your will." 
 
 "My will?" 
 
 " Well, in equity, not law, — I am to be your 
 executor should you die, and I must know your 
 wishes. I will' see them ca led legally into 
 effect on the twenty-first anniversary of your 
 bu-th, for that extraordinary power is vested 
 in me for your sister's benefit, as your mother, 
 yesterday, had a very clear notion of, but I 
 hold the powers. Now your sister has arrived 
 at an age which renders decision important. 
 Her happiness, even before your majority, is 
 in my hands subject to your confirmation as 
 regards any property which by law may fall in. 
 It is, therefore, of importance that I should 
 be au courant of your feelings in such a
 
 70 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 matter. And if you suspect any little tendre 
 which has escaped my close eye, I think you 
 had better, openly and freely, discuss it with 
 her, and let me know your final resolve." 
 
 She vacated her seat and called in Char- 
 lotte, who filled it, and smothered me with a 
 sister's embrace. 
 
 " Well, Charlotte ! Ellen wishes, in case of 
 death or prolonged absence, to know my 
 wishes respecting your welfare ; and has 
 hinted that you may have offers, or now, in- 
 deed, preferences to which my assent would 
 be pleasant. Now, Miss Charlotte, open your 
 heart and let me peep into it." 
 
 " No — no, not so fast, gently if you please, 
 I am not to be taken by storm, Sir Horatio. 
 Make your advances with more tact, or you 
 will find that your sister has imbibed some of 
 your ability for the art of defence." 
 
 " Oh ! well, you will not surrender under 
 the common summons ? Not even under the 
 despatches from Ellen ?" 
 
 " No ! I can wait if needs be ; and the man
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 71 
 
 that cannot wait on trial is no mate for the 
 sister of Horatio Howard." 
 
 " But suppose I never return. We have no 
 time to lose !" 
 
 "Well, Horatio, what have you to ask?" 
 
 " Now that is like a sensible girl, and 1 
 will exact no promises. I wish to fire the 
 first broadside. Were you or were you not 
 mortally wounded by a certain random shot 
 on a certain day at a certain cottage near 
 Gosport r 
 
 " That shot did strike ; but more deponent 
 cannot tell." 
 
 " Did you, or did you not, after that said 
 action, and upon more mature consideration, 
 hoist the white flag ?" 
 
 " Possibly ! there may be some truth in 
 that ; but I was giddy, did not know my power 
 then, nor do I now," — making an inclination 
 of her stately head. " Nor do you expect me 
 to reveal more ?" 
 
 " Certainly not. Has Plover any charmed 
 name for you ?"
 
 72 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 '^ None, but as my brother's friend is con- 
 cerned." 
 
 " In sliort, has any shore-going fellow crossed 
 you that you have taken a preference to ?" 
 
 " None ! 'and more, I am almost as much a 
 savage as yourself. The man who wins this 
 hand must, probably, be of your own cloth ; a 
 brother to you in essence, never to estrange 
 us, and must be worthy by deeds, not words." 
 
 " Well, as my consent is implied, may I 
 ask, in confidence — no spies near — If the 
 original enemy got alongside and showed fight, 
 is it likely the white flag would be again dis- 
 played ?" 
 
 " Cannot say no. Should hesitate, examine 
 his papers, refer the case to Commodore Ellen, 
 and, if he passed muster, I might permit him 
 to make his case known at head-quarters. 
 But I would not commit myself — I should 
 keep the flag of truce flying, unless Ellen pro- 
 duced powers." 
 
 ^' Exactly so. Oh, you cunning puss ! Kiss 
 your own brother."
 
 ■ HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 73 
 
 We were then silent for a few minutes, but 
 the young lady apparently preferred conversa- 
 tion ; for, suddenly looking up, with a flush, 
 she said — 
 
 " Take not all this for what would occur ; 
 for, to tell you the truth, if I knew that he 
 or you had conversed on such a matter, I 
 would not even see him." 
 
 "Indeed?" 
 
 " Come, no more bantering ; I have told 
 you all." 
 
 " Not all. Did you never hear from him ?" 
 
 " Never ! How could you imagine such 
 nonsense ?" 
 
 " "Well, he never mentioned your name, 
 and that was suspicious." 
 
 " However, I give my consent, if anything 
 of the kind should happen, of which I have 
 no idea ; and now Ellen must rejoin," 
 
 " But, surely, you have some secret ? " 
 
 " None. I never dream of marriage. My 
 wife Avill tumble across my path some day, 
 and I shall make some foolish marriage —
 
 74 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 unless Ellen, indeed, is schooling one un- 
 known to us all, to astonish me." 
 
 " What ! and no secret for me, your be- 
 loved sister ? I almost repent having revealed 
 mine — if I was to have no return." 
 
 " Tours ! Capital ! You puss !" 
 
 " Brothers are wicked torments !" — and she 
 flew off, exclaiming, " I trust to your honour, 
 Horatio !" 
 
 Ellen now entered the room, saying, " Here 
 has been a heavy action fought, If I mistake 
 not." 
 
 •' No," I replied — all has turned out as I 
 expected. / shall have a sealed packet also, 
 to be opened in case an enemy should appear, 
 but I much fear that our ideas will not 
 coincide." 
 
 "Now, Mister Wisdom, I think they will^ 
 but I will not listen to the secrets of birds but 
 patiently await the issue of events. Your 
 friend, if he be one, will not be warned off 
 next time. Nor will the flag of truce fly in 
 vain. I had my reasons.
 
 . HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 75 
 
 " Well, we young ones, cannot compete with 
 old birds. I must have my sealed packet also. 
 Yes, I will write it to-night and seal it with 
 that identical seal." 
 
 Thus ended that eventful evening ; it had 
 cleared up many doubts and put us all in the 
 right road again. After a very affectionate 
 good-night, Ellen and Charlotte remained to 
 say a few words, and then Ellen embraced and 
 kissed us both saying, "May God preserve 
 you both to be useful members of society." I 
 finished my sealed packet and also letters to 
 Fanny, Dr. T., and the curate, and retired 
 to my room, where Louisa awaited to see me 
 housed and that I wanted nothing.
 
 76 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 I WAS up and stirring, for I could not divest my 
 mind of the misery brewing at Portsmouth — 
 and yet as far as the simple trial itself was 
 concerned, it created no more stir than many 
 any others. It was confined chiefly to a few 
 ships, and a few busy meddlers who had worked 
 up the mischief to suit their own evil purposes. 
 The morning was cold and dreary, with 
 occasional mist. I sauntered until I found the 
 main road, leading over Portsdown Hill to 
 Loudon, and saw two persons, evidently mili- 
 tary men, anxiously awaiting the arrival of 
 the coach. When it came up, a man dis-
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 77 
 
 mounted, gave his place to the apparent 
 superior on the box, and the companion got 
 up behind. Both evaded my gaze ; the ser- 
 vant or companion, I thought was known to me. 
 
 The man; liaving his instructions, remained. 
 He seemed at a loss, and I inquired if I 
 could assist him. He replied — 
 
 " Well, «ir ! I am to seek and render 
 assistance to two officers, somewhere in this 
 neighbourhood of the Havant Road, I under- 
 stood, and return to Portsmouth with them." 
 
 A post-chaise now came towards us from 
 the quarry, and I could perceive two naval 
 officers within. The servant knew the parties, 
 jumped up on the little seat before, and off 
 they went, at a great rate, to Portsmouth. 
 Presently, a young woman came from the 
 same direction, and instantly addressed me — 
 
 " Oh, sir ! they have been a fighting, sir, 
 and the navy officer is badly hurt, sir. I am 
 sure he will die, sir. They fired pistols, sir, 
 and one ball cut my apron, look, sir ! Oh, 
 dear ! — what shall I do ? "
 
 78 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 " Go home, my good girl — what can you 
 do ? — where do you live ? " 
 
 " In that house, close by, sir." 
 
 "Then go home; you cannot now help it. 
 You might, had you made a noise, have 
 stopped it, and thus, perhaps, prevented fur- 
 ther mischief." 
 
 She determined now to make up for it, and 
 commenced screaming at such a rate, that the 
 inhabitants of her domicile rushed out with 
 pitchforks and other instruments, and I was 
 not quite sure I should escape. But I stood 
 coolly, and advised them to take her home, as 
 she had been scared at a duel in the quarry. 
 
 "Oh, yes!" she bellowed out; "he did 
 shoot him — I saw it all." 
 
 The parties, thereupon, seized me very 
 unceremoniously, and my coolness surprising 
 them, they inquired — 
 
 "No! not he; two sodger men, with blue 
 silk braided coats." 
 
 Addressing me — " Hast seen 'em?"
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 79 
 
 " Yes ! they have gone to London by the 
 light coach. I saw two men answering their 
 description get on the coach," 
 
 '" And why didst thee make such a howl- 
 ing r 
 
 " The gentleman said I ought." 
 
 " Yes ! before you saw them fire." 
 
 " Oh ! that is all ! — hope no offence, sir ?" 
 
 "None." 
 
 So I walked home. I thought I knew the 
 countenances of both inside the post-chaise ; 
 one resembled one of the prisoners advisers, 
 and, indeed, both did. Was this, then, another 
 branch of misery ? I much feared that it was. 
 I almost fancied the wounded man resembled 
 the prisoner himself, but his countenance was 
 averted. A few hours would solve all. 
 
 I hurried home, put myself to rights, for the 
 rough handling had discomposed me not a 
 little, and reached the breakfast table. No 
 questions were asked, that awaited a more 
 convenient season. I was now old enough to 
 judge of propriety. Ellen looking enquiringly,
 
 80 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTOX. 
 
 I said, " I will tell you candidly, come to the 
 other end of the room." When I glanced over 
 the facts, she made no remark, we rejoined, 
 and there it ended. We dined between the 
 services, in order to allow of my getting to 
 Portsmouth earlier. Ellen and Charlotte pro- 
 posed to accompany me, but soon saw the in- 
 convenience, and our leave-taking was perhaps, 
 more solemn than before. At five I was on 
 my journey. 
 
 I found Captain Lofty impatiently awaiting 
 my arrival, and pacing his room in no pleasant 
 mood. "All right, Howard, you are an ex- 
 cellent fellow." 
 
 He rang the bell, and when the servant en- 
 tered, enquired, " Are my people here ?" 
 
 "■ Yes, sir, all ready. 
 
 And in a very few moments we were at the 
 King's Stairs, and off to Spithead, under can- 
 vass. As we neared, the ship made sail, and 
 was just feeling her canvass as we got along- 
 side. All the other ships followed us, and we 
 passed through the Needles that night, and 
 parted company.
 
 4 
 . HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 81 
 
 I saw nothing more of the captain until the 
 next morning, when, it being my morning 
 watch, I was invited to breakfast alone. I 
 clearly saw that he had something heavy on 
 his mind. ^ -He sent the steward out, and then 
 asked me distinctly and pointedly — 
 
 " Howard, had you anything to do with 
 that duel?!'. 
 
 "No,'' sir." 
 
 " You were observed near the ground, and 
 we were told, arrested as the principal." 
 
 " That is true, but strange ; I will state the 
 facts plainly." 
 
 He then breathed freely, and said — 
 
 " Of course you know the parties ?" 
 
 " Indeed, sir, I do not ; I thought once 
 that the face of the wounded man was 
 Saumarez." 
 
 '' It was, he is dead. I, on the report, 
 pledged my character, that if you were con- 
 cerned I would delay, as my orders were 
 optional, ioiu' arrival put that, with the 
 assertion of one of the seconds, * that you only 
 
 VOL. II. G
 
 82 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 saw the carriage in the road,' beyond further 
 doubt, and I was anxious to prevent unneces- 
 sary delay, as I should have been compelled 
 to sit on all the remaining courts-martial. 
 Every oJOScious officer was superseded yester- 
 day, ten lieutenants, and two commanders will 
 (quietly) ask 'to attend to their private affairs.' 
 Every officer of the disaffected ship will be 
 paid off, and a fresh company of marines be 
 embarked ; the serjeant and junior lieutenant 
 have been sent here at my request, and such 
 wide-spread misery never was before heard of. 
 It is kept very quiet, and it is the wish of the 
 Admiralty to smother it as much as possible ; 
 Spithead is, therefore, for the present, cleared ; 
 ships from the Downs have been ordered to 
 assemble, to afford three captains, if necessary, 
 to proceed further. As you value my wishes, 
 do not let this be talked of below. Now we 
 are off to Brest and Basque Roads, and then 
 to cruize, but ' Mum.' " 
 
 I then rejoined the mess, where I soon 
 learned that the court-martial affair was too
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 83 
 
 serious to be discussed. However, Haskins 
 asked — 
 
 " Is that fellow dead?" 
 
 " ' That fellow,' as you term him, I be- 
 lieve is." - ' 
 
 " Oh^ my good fellow, -rt^etnow him better, 
 and possibly later than you." 
 
 " Well, old fellow, I hope you have enjoyed 
 yourself?" 
 
 '' Very much," I replied. " But I hear 
 that my absence has prevented others from 
 seeing as much of the shore as I could have 
 wished. But have you heard anything about 
 the Plover?" 
 
 " No ; but there are some letters for you ; 
 have you not yet received them? the clerk 
 has them or your marine." 
 
 Just then the clerk entered with them, and 
 said — 
 
 " That must be from Captain Noble ; 
 but the other is from some left-handed 
 friend." 
 
 " Well," I said, " I know, before I open 
 
 G 2
 
 84 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 them. This is from Post Captain Noble. 
 This, First-Lieutenant Fitzjames ; " and a 
 cheer, which brought out Mr. Salmond's 
 compliments, made the berth ring. Out 
 sprang Haskins, and I heard him deliver 
 himself to the effect — " Only the youngsters 
 cheering Captain — (posted, sir) — Noble and 
 his gallant first, Mr. Fitzjames, now his first- 
 lieutenant." Another cheer, but the captain 
 did not heed it ; he had crossed the water, 
 and guessed, this time, pretty considerably 
 near the truth. — As I read my letters, I let 
 out at times. — 
 
 " Taken a large corvette, big enough to 
 hoist in Plover — Captain posted into her — 
 Fitzjames wounded slightly in right arm, and 
 some good men gone. First-lieutenant, at pre- 
 sent in command of Plover, will probably be 
 confirmed — admiral will not interfere with 
 vacancy he holds — Captain Noble's acting 
 order — gone to Halifax to be nursed, and get 
 men. Wanted Amelia then to take the frigate, 
 which ran ; perhaps, she may find her yet —
 
 J 
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 85 
 
 believe her name to be ' Catch me if you can ' 
 — supposed to be sneaking home, laden with 
 plunder — will fight hard, probably; therefore, 
 treat her like a practised enemy — no raw, sea- 
 sick hands, 'she has a picked crew ; I cannot 
 just now recollect her name. Our old Noble 
 did his work in his own rich style — quite a 
 boy stUl,'.' ' - 
 
 '^ There, my lads, you have Fitzjames's 
 yarn. What the noble captain can have to 
 say to me, I know not. I must read and 
 digest his letter, before I let out any of his 
 secrets. Oho ! he wants a second, and 
 thinks I may have served my time, and can 
 manage to join him. But he is mistaken ; 
 this new order about not passing until one is 
 nineteen has dished me for the present ; and 
 here I must serve my time out. Nothing like 
 one long good certificate, under a captain with 
 a name. One never goes ship-hunting after 
 that label is signed." 
 
 " Right, young fellow ; that lost me my 
 commission three years ago. My godfathers
 
 86 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 were all men of straw, and Lord Cochrane 
 said he would have none of that school in his 
 ship. If 1 had had then only one line from our 
 present chief, I should have been snapped at. 
 But, I suppose, my young hero — for I see that 
 you will not long wait for your rank, indepen- 
 dent of any interest — might I venture to ask, 
 if I should obtain my commission, would you 
 patronise such an old dry stick as your humble 
 servant ?" 
 
 " Not, Haskins, if you are to be my humble 
 servant. But it will always gratify me to 
 think that it may be our lot to serve together; 
 and if you should be so unfortunate as to be 
 behind me in the race, if my coat-tails will 
 help you, hold on, my good fellow, and I will 
 try to pull you up to the top step of the 
 ladder." 
 
 " Howard, you are a good soul ! — indeed, 
 too good for a midshipman's berth, I was 
 about to say. But I take no unfair advan- 
 tage of any man. If I should be fortunate 
 enough to find you with a vacancy, I will not
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 87 
 
 claim your promise ; but I may intimate that, 
 if it is not inconvenient, I may wish to serve 
 under you. I will hear of no rash vows — I 
 may change. You know nothing now of my 
 previous character, and before I intruded 
 myself, you may be assured, I should court 
 such an investigation as it would be your duty 
 to make, before I would consent to join any 
 officer. I am not sure of remaining here ; it 
 is even probable that I may be removed into 
 the Basque-Road squadron." 
 
 Everyone protested. He said it would 
 grieve him very much, but he feared his old 
 captain would claim him, and there in a line- 
 of-battle-ship he would be buried, perhaps — 
 never get his head above the lower deck. 
 
 We had now rounded Ushant, hauled in for 
 the Black Rocks, and found the Briton looking 
 out ; we closed when she signalled " Admiral 
 Douarnenay Bay." There we soon sighted the 
 flag and saluted ; exchanged despatches, and 
 moved on for Basque Roads. Here the 
 squadron was so close in, that the enemy tried
 
 88 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 a shell at us — as we had, during the captam's 
 absence, drifted too far in. It did not fall far 
 short ; we filled, and as we passed under the 
 stern of the Admiral I think, were hailed, 
 ' Discharge Mr. Haskins into the Conquestador.'' 
 Poor Haskins, this was not his ship, but he 
 felt that all hopes for his advancement were 
 baffled ; he foretold his fate but too truly ; 
 and we lost an invaluable officer miserably 
 sacrificed. I learned, that captain tried very 
 hard to retain him, but the order was impera- 
 nve, and captains of frigates just then had 
 no favour in the eyes of the great men. We 
 sailed that evening. We obtained two young- 
 sters, smart lads of sixteen, but they had yet 
 to learn manners, and as 1 was now senior- 
 master's mate, indeed, the only one, I had no 
 very pleasant job. This injudicious step, as 
 will be seen hereafter, was highly injurious to 
 the welfare of the service. 
 
 We ran down the Bay, along the coast of 
 Portugal, and reached Tenerifie, without 
 sighting even a cruiser ; there we touched ;
 
 HOKATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 89 
 
 obtained wine, bullocks, fruit, and vegetables ; 
 enjoyed ourselves at a tertulio, given by the 
 governor, learned a few Spanish words from 
 very pretty lips, and off again for the Cape de 
 Verds, which we searched closely for any 
 lurking privateers, and then struck for the 
 track of homeward-bound Indiamen, so as to 
 apprize them of the present disposition of our 
 tleet, and also of that of the enemy, which was 
 for the present blockaded in Brest and Basque 
 Eoads. We soon met one of the tail of the 
 convoy, and ascertained that the rest had 
 passed on, but we might fall in with three 
 French frigates working up, as they imagined, 
 the African coast. We stood in for Sierra 
 Leone, and there we lay, as we thought, to 
 die like sheep. But, fortunately, intelligence 
 reached of three French frigates being at the 
 Isles De Los. Three or thirty seemed all the 
 same ; we were soon at sea, and having shipped 
 the crew of a brig captured, but sent in a 
 cartel to Sierra Leone, we started in pursuit. 
 For obvious reasons I shall be silent. It is
 
 90 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 not my intention to fight that action as it was 
 fought, and most gallantly — or fight it better 
 than it was fought — but somehow or other I 
 could tell the tale much better than it has 
 been narrated, and deeds of valour were done 
 there which would have graced history better 
 than the puny affair we find recorded. The 
 Amelia^ unfortunately, had more than her 
 complement, and the unfortunate main top-sail 
 braces (I believe should read main-top bow- 
 line), let go by some lubber, after the braces 
 were shot away — caused great mischief 
 
 The other unfortunate events were the loss 
 of the proper commanding officers — the as- 
 sumption of command by those who did not 
 belong to her — and of no one adequately 
 carrying out the captain's orders — no Noble 
 fighting — all helter-skelter noise. 
 
 The fighting was desperate, and truly, as 
 narrated, did the antagonists fight with 
 sponges. But had the vessel not fallen foul, ten 
 to one would have fallen, by the cool, de- 
 liberate aim of the marines, at the French
 
 4 
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 91 
 
 serving the rammers. They fell, and took 
 with them the sponges in repeated instances ; 
 and distance alone was required to have almost 
 reduced the matter, on the opponent's side, to 
 musketry— ^for the guns of the Amelia were 
 well served, and the masts of the Arethusa 
 would soon have been by the board, and all 
 her sharpshooters, from aloft, sent to their 
 reckoning, had the vessels not been fouled. 
 So I perceive my notes run, and query, — 
 Why were the top-gallant sails taken in ? 
 
 Possibly, by the captain's order I may be 
 told. There are reasons why I should not 
 discuss more. I should like a reply, to get at 
 the truth if I could ; but who lives to contest 
 it ? — and it only remains to ask, where are the 
 captain's letters on this subject ? He would 
 never communicate these for publication. But 
 several I could name, and alive, well know 
 his feelings relative to that action, and how 
 bitterly he felt the neglect of such services as 
 he had rendered. 
 
 But the historian forgets to tell that when
 
 92 HORATIO HOWAED BRENTON. 
 
 the Amelia next day mustered, ready to 
 renew action, if compelled, it was still under 
 the impression that the consort would get off, 
 and he should then be able to cope with tioo. 
 Reverse the case, — would the Amelia, re- 
 manned as the Arethusa was, have avoided 
 tion ? — would she have allowed an enemy so 
 desperately cut up to escape ? Never !
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 93 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Not long after the above action was fought, I 
 reached England again ; and, having nearly 
 served my time, and got my certificate, I 
 remained on shore until I was nearly nineteen 
 years of age. About this time I took a new 
 name, but I will still maintain my noin de 
 guerre, and write under Horatio Howard. 
 
 I reached home in March, when I found 
 them all safe at the rectory ; and, owing to 
 the kindness of my captain, I reached it 
 before they could hear anytliing of the action. 
 I had, therefore, all the story to myself. l)Ut 
 all they cared about was my precious self; and
 
 94 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 fighting was not to be alluded to at Aslidown 
 Vale. Home affairs had remained in pretty 
 much the same state during my absence. The 
 school was now flourishing ; also the master's 
 family increased by two, and the matron look- 
 ing still more like one of her pupils than a 
 mistress ; nevertheless, Mr. Fitzjames gave her 
 a very high character. The curate's bachelor's 
 den was also erected about a quarter of a mile 
 off, at the extremity of the church field, and 
 just peeped between two crossing clumps of 
 thick underwood. 
 
 I thought that he and Fanny might do 
 worse than come to an understanding ; but 
 she was too high-spirited — had become a very 
 high-minded, but determined ally of the cham- 
 pion, and looked up to some hero yet to be 
 ushered on the stage. Take care, Fanny ! I 
 thought ; this waiting for something better is 
 slippery work ; and the better man, when he 
 finds out that he has ' the weather guage,' 
 sometimes bears down, and commits sad havoc 
 with foolish hearts — yes! sometimes, as I
 
 J 
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 95 
 
 know, breaks them ! But that was her busi- 
 ness. Doubtless, she had the best advice. 
 
 As my name was now replaced on the books 
 of the guard-ship, to await the eventful passing 
 day, the whole family removed to Ports- 
 mouth soon after my arrival ; and we were 
 once more assembled — a truly happy family — 
 at our Hampshire home. 
 
 We had not long been settled, before I 
 received a commission to search out Lofty and 
 Noble, and persuade them to accompany me 
 home. 
 
 Delighted with my mission, off I started, 
 and caught both captams just as they were 
 quitting the admiral's office. They requested 
 me to accompany them to the dockyard, as 
 they could not reply until they returned to 
 the admiral. I asked permission to join them 
 there, as I wished to find Dr. Howard. 
 
 "Very good. You will find us at the com- 
 missioner's office, or not far from it." 
 
 I found the doctor, and had no trouble in 
 persuading him to bring down Fitzjames, and
 
 9G HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 arrange with the captains, so that the same 
 carriage would bring them all home at night 
 for I knew they must return. 
 
 The dockyard matters over, we returned to 
 Portsmouth, and by permission of the admiral, 
 who wished to detain them, we moved off 
 early to " Champion Villa." 
 
 We arrived about three o'clock, much to 
 the surprise of all, and I informed Ellen that 
 two more might be expected. '' Excellent," 
 she said, " for I have, this instant, persuaded 
 two dear friends of mine, with their mother, 
 to come, and we, ladies, would have been too 
 much for you. Let me see — seven men and 
 seven ladies — why, you are quite a general." 
 
 The captains and myself passed part of the 
 interval before dinner in an animated con- 
 versation on various matters connected with 
 the service, and although much of what was 
 said would be scarcely interesting or even 
 intelligible to the general reader, I cannot omit 
 the following observations.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 97 
 
 " You soar too high," exclaimed Captain 
 Noble. '' You had better be made a peer, 
 become first lord of the Admiralty, and then I 
 will support you." 
 
 ''Nevertheless," said Captain Noble, "if it 
 effected much good, I doubt the amount, as 
 weighed against the evil. These educated 
 men, as they fancy themselves, would be a 
 pest in every ship where they were embarked. 
 No ! no ! any education of that nature should 
 be general. I would have sergeants of artil- 
 lery as the principal instructors — men who 
 have been accustomed to drill officers, as well 
 as men ; and captains, as Avell as officers, 
 should be present on all these occasions. 
 These sergeants should receive extra pay 
 for this duty. All my officers and men have, 
 in this manner, by my private arrangement, 
 been so drilled ; they are good soldiers, and 
 the men enter into the spirit of riddling a 
 cask, laid out as a mark, and alloAved to lloat 
 down with the wind or tide. Again : in the 
 practice of storming, they are landed at some 
 
 VOL. II. H
 
 98 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 beach aifording cover, along which they steal 
 in sharpshooter style, and, at the pre-con- 
 certed signal, rush on to their object. But 
 we have none of your ramrod broth — no 
 ' playing soldiers,' that would cause a mu- 
 tiny. They are taught to march well, and 
 it has been explained to them, in boarding 
 how much stronger they become by disci- 
 pline. And if landed for service, I have 
 the commander of the troops' word that they 
 eclipsed the famed militia of Halifax — and you 
 know they are not to be despised, Captain 
 Lofty." 
 
 " I like your notions, Noble, you must fight 
 a good action. It does not require an artillery- 
 man to point a gun, that is, in my opinion, 
 one of the tricks of the service. You know 
 that. Noble. I can read your educated man 
 — and you can recollect the ridiculous figure 
 a certain artilleryman cut, when he thought 
 himself the only man who could point a gun — 
 when every shot, his excepted, both at long and 
 short range, struck the cask. He invariably
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 99 
 
 failed. That is not the only evil — want 
 of nerve in the aim, impetuosity, or over-zeal, 
 as you term it — missing a frigate when the 
 eye of a loader was to be aimed at ; all 
 these absiird mistakes, your self-constituted 
 heroes commit — forgetting discipline and en- 
 deavouring to command independently, they 
 neutralise every gun at their quarters. These 
 are the pests of our profession ! Look at the 
 artillery ! Does not your heart beat when you 
 see each man firm at his station, no hurry, no 
 loss of command — " down — " every man flat, 
 — " up, ready, fire — " and certain destruction 
 is hurled in the teeth of the enemy — then, as 
 cool cucumbers, they load and await the order." 
 " But, my good fellow, turn your attention 
 to our ships. I will not expose them. But, 
 granted your men are all perfect, even if they 
 could pass each shot into the spot they intended, 
 are you quite sure that it is judicious ? Would 
 not a fair marksman, hitting three feet on 
 either side — taking the broadside view of the 
 question — do, perhaps, even more execution ? 
 
 u 2
 
 100 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 It is this new-fangled notion of independent 
 firina- — of throwinor overboard all concentration 
 of command, and making the utmost con- 
 fusion, without permitting the smoke even 
 to clear, that an aim may be taken — which 
 prevents any good action from being fought. 
 
 " Now, hear a curious proposition. Noble. 
 If I have another action to fight, I will guard 
 the magazines. The enemy, if he be brought 
 within musketry, shall have his share of killed 
 by that arm. He shall not load with impunity, 
 and as his gun is running out, my alternate 
 gun shall fire. Two rounds from his guns for 
 one from mine, I can afford, if I have but 
 decent marksmen. Turn this in your mind, 
 and, before you open fire, instruct your officers 
 fully of your intended modes of attack. Above 
 all, hesitate to fire one raking shot without 07ie 
 determined s^ot — let that be the neck of the 
 rudder, if astern : the bowsprit and jib-geer, 
 foreward. In either case, you may select 
 your next point of attack, if you have not 
 thrown away shot.
 
 'HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 101 
 
 " Calculate the level of your midship gun, 
 and the level of the enemy's bow, with all the 
 dead wood, and men lying down to avoid the 
 bow-rake ; and tell me, even if the enemy had 
 means of (^efence, and you were trying the 
 experiment, how many men you might wound, 
 and on which side of the deck are they ? Grape 
 canister, every missile that you launched at 
 the boAvsprit, by the maindeck, and at the jib- 
 boom by the quarter-deck guns, may save you 
 much trouble and loss of life on both sides. 
 
 " But no man can fight Avithout officers — 
 who are not to fight for themselves, or for their 
 humours, but for their country and their leader. 
 
 *' Upon my Avord, Ave have forgotten where 
 we are. This summer-house of peace has 
 made us all very pugnacious. But I hope 
 HoAvard will turn all this over in his mind, 
 and think of such confusion, rope of sand, or 
 of too many cooks. 
 
 " And, now, let us rejoin the ladies, for we 
 have little time for a walk before dinner." 
 
 On entering the house, Ave found all the
 
 102 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 ladies bonneted and awaiting our return. But 
 before proceeding, there was one very neces- 
 sary point to be understood : where are we all 
 bound ? and should we part company ? where 
 is the rendezvous? "Well, I think," said 
 Ellen, '• that we are all inclined to mount 
 nearer to the clouds. The obehsk above us 
 none can miss, all lost sheep must repair there. 
 The dinner, for sundry reasons, has been fixed 
 at six to-day, therefore we have plenty of time." 
 
 So we ascended the hill, and ranged 
 over those heights so well known, from Spit- 
 head, not at all pleasant to the feet, being 
 just at this season, somewhat slippery. 
 
 It was a fine April evening, the spring was 
 rather advanced, and vegetation generally, 
 scant as it is here, afforded the hope of a warm 
 summer. It was one of the brightest of the 
 season, and no rain in quantity had fallen for 
 some time ; therefore, it was probable that the 
 summit would aiford firmer and drier footing. 
 But bare and bleak as these hills are, the eye 
 can only seek for refreshment from the lower
 
 HORA.TIO HOWARD BRENTON. 108 
 
 artificial ground about. Fareham and Spitliead 
 on the right, extending in the direction of 
 Southampton, and the brow descending to- 
 wards Chichester, on the left; the Isle of 
 Wight in -the distant foreground ; but the 
 shipping forest was rather bare at that date. 
 
 To separate and find lonely walks, would 
 have puzzled a landsman ; and here, on this 
 sea of chalk, I must say that the simplest plan 
 was to follow your leaders, keeping within 
 signal distance. 
 
 Of the other pairs I took little notice, Fanny 
 and myself were mated 2^0 tern, and we had 
 many little secrets to talk about, which it is 
 not ray intention to divulge. However, talk 
 not of the curiosity of the softer sex, we have 
 it quite as strongly implanted in us, but we 
 are more cautious, and less dependent on that 
 peculiar courtesy, by which a pair of piercing 
 dark, or even blue eyes, laughs at all conven- 
 tional forms, and demands in plain terms, the 
 secret you might determine to conceal. We 
 are compelled to move by a more circuitous
 
 104 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 road, and get at the citadel by stratagem. 
 Such was now my determination. I had that 
 peculiar power of seeing ahead, and I could 
 not understand the coolness of Fanny to her 
 reverend admirer, unless she had some one 
 else in her eye. Now I had my suspicions, 
 and as we had through life been play-mates, 
 more aifectionately connected than the gene- 
 rality of brothers and sisters are, and our 
 little " hopes and fears were to each other 
 known," I thought I might venture to sound 
 her disposition. Well, the old story — courage 
 — but here my object was likely to be mis- 
 interpreted and dangerous — not at all — I had 
 cleared for action, and was fully prepared to 
 meet boarders. So putting a very brave face 
 on the matter, I observed — 
 
 " Fanny, you have now grown into such a 
 woman, that I am afraid to talk to you as I 
 was accustomed." 
 
 " Yes, Horatio, I feel it too — you ever had 
 my confidence, and I assure you that our bro- 
 therly and sisterly love never will be severed 
 by me."
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 105 
 
 " Well, that is just what is correct, for it is 
 now time to put an end to any little fun we 
 may have enjoyed as children. Ellen has, 
 doubtless, informed you of her thoughts?" 
 
 " Yes, Horatio ; but but what is your 
 
 opinion r 
 
 " My opinion is simply this : — First, it is 
 possible I may never find any one to suit 
 my temper ; next, that our relationship is 
 too close to allow of our forming a still 
 nearer one ; and, finally, that it is clear, that 
 I shall be disinherited, if I act contrary 
 to the will of my father or Ellen. She has 
 spoken out unmistakeably. Now, the next 
 thing which now interests me, and ever will, is 
 your future welfare. I am informed — true, 
 only by surmise — that advances have been 
 made by the curate, and if you should accede 
 to them, all I can promise is, that if the pre- 
 sentation of your father's living falls into my 
 hands, under such relationship only would I 
 select him as the successor. But I have no 
 feeling in the matter. You must make your
 
 106 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 own election. As a brother, and as one who 
 can see defects, when you might be blinded by 
 affection, and looking to our future friendship 
 in this world — I must say that I shall take no 
 common interest in watching who this enviable 
 man may be." 
 
 " Oh ! Horatio, I do promise this — I will 
 confide to you as a brother all I feel. I will 
 never marry without consulting you, and my 
 husband must consent to be as a brother to 
 you. I do not like the position as the wife of 
 a curate, nor do I believe his attention to 
 extend beyond the interest which you have so 
 plainly and so very generously propounded in 
 the succession to my father's position. No ! 
 you know him not; there is a very cold 
 heart under that white surplice ! and I look 
 for one warm and as energetic as my own, 
 without guile or duplicity." 
 
 '' But, Fanny, you are ahead of your reck- 
 oning. First, you must change clothes with 
 me before you go in search of the heau ideal of 
 your fancy. Or what traps, what incantations
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 107 
 
 liave you prepared to attract him here ? As for 
 the curate, judging from his brother, I should 
 think he must have a warm heart." 
 
 " Oh, no ! Horatio ; he told us very plainly 
 one evening,., he lost his at the university ; and 
 I never will have a second-hand one. This 
 brother you allude to is a very different cha- 
 racter, beloved by every one. He dines here 
 to day." 
 
 "Indeed! and why keep it so profound a 
 secret ? " 
 
 \ " Well, I shall have an opportunity, then, 
 of scanning your hero ! " 
 
 " And will honestly give your opinion ?" 
 
 " Certainly ! why should you doubt it. He 
 is safe engaged, and will not be so sly as men 
 who have hearts to lose generally are." 
 
 " Do not trust implicitly to that." 
 
 " And now, was it not somewhere here you 
 fought the duel ?" 
 
 " Me ! — I fight a duel ? 1 must quarrel 
 first." 
 
 " And then you would fight, would you ?" 
 holding up her finger.
 
 108 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 "That is a question I decline answering. 
 Some men cannot command themselves, or are 
 commanded by others ; I belong to a pro- 
 fession, and the enemy I must meet, if he be 
 truly one. But this is no discussion for ladies. 
 I have never asked myself such a question. 
 But whence your question ?" 
 
 "Oh! it was a current rumour, that you 
 were in the presence of all parties, took no 
 steps to arrest them, and were yourself ar- 
 rested." 
 
 " Very true, but I am not a constable, 1 
 cannot arrest on suspicion, nor could I inter- 
 fere with ray superiors." 
 
 " Well, all that was satisfactorily explained. 
 Ellen knew all about it, and it was fully ac- 
 counted for by the doctor, who has a long 
 story to tell you when you are alone." 
 
 " And now as I have given you some startling 
 news, pray try a similar effect on my nerves 
 by informing me who these two pretty girls 
 are who are coming to dinner." 
 
 " Did not Ellen inform you ?"
 
 HORATIO HOWAED BRENTON. 109 
 
 "'No." 
 
 " Then do you, Mr. Diplomatist, expect me, 
 the champion's private secretary, to divulge 
 her secrets? No, I shall watch your nerves 
 most narrowly. Charlotte will observe from 
 behind them. Ellen will be on your left wing, 
 as you would say, a little before your beam, 
 and if you do not blush I shall ask mamma to 
 stick a pin into you. Won't we torment you, 
 my hero. But here we are all alone ! None 
 of the party in sight ! Where are we ? How 
 ridiculous, Horatio, we shall appear ! and such 
 looks from all the party !" 
 
 " I am so glad ! I shall enjoy your blushes 
 first, and I shall ask Charlotte, the doctor, 
 Fitzjames, and both captains to ask me every 
 five minutes where I could have strayed, and 
 what your bonnet was off for." 
 
 " It never was off, you plague." 
 
 " Yes ! but you will have to explain and 
 blush before these pretty girls. Now who 
 has the best of the game ?" 
 
 " Horatio, you always did teaze all my life."
 
 110 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 " Yes, only to make you remember me." 
 " Well, I will not be so foolish again as to 
 walk out alone with you. Come along; it 
 must be late, and we are far behind ; I think 
 I hear the dinner bell." 
 
 We soon regained the house after sundry 
 slips, found we had plenty of time, and passed 
 off to our rooms unnoticed, the others, pro- 
 bably, not being aware of our absence.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON 1 1 ] 
 
 CHAPTEE VIII. 
 
 We dropped in by ones and twos into the long 
 drawing-room, and were soon busily inquiring 
 how we could have separated. Charlotte was 
 more than usually anxious to know where I 
 went; but I would not satisfy her at all, 
 unless she first confessed her sins. Before we 
 had proceeded further. Dr. Howard and Mr. 
 Fitzjames were ushered in, I looked round 
 for Fanny, but she was not present. I ran 
 forward to receive Fitzjames, but he warded 
 off the right arm, which evidently was not yet 
 perfect ; and, putting his left arm round my 
 waist, said —
 
 112 HORATIO HOAVARD BRENTON. 
 
 " Howard, I am so bappy to see you. Pray 
 introduce me to your mother and the other 
 ladies." 
 
 He was well received, but most graciously 
 by Ellen and Charlotte ; but he started at 
 finding Captain Lofty at home here, and was 
 " delighted to renew the acquaintance." 
 
 " Not more than I am, Mr. Fitzjames," 
 observed our captain, bowing. 
 
 And now Fanny entered. 
 
 *' But here is another wild girl, Miss Fanny 
 Howard ; I am sure she will welcome any 
 friend of mine." (She looked imploringly). 
 
 '' Indeed, I will, Horatio, for your sake !" 
 — and a beautiful expression shot across her 
 countenance, with a most wickedly revengeful 
 look towards me. 
 
 He returned to Captain Lofty, and said — 
 
 " Why, this, sir, is quite a surprise ; I was 
 informed that you dined with the admiral — 
 our boat carried the invitation." 
 
 " Lideed," he replied, thoughtfully ; '' he 
 never mentioned any formal invitation to me,
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 113 
 
 he asked me verbally, and I was most kindly 
 excused. I shall have toexplain this. An 
 invitation, under these circumstances, is a 
 command." 
 
 Captain Noble asked if any came for him. 
 
 "Oh, yes ; it is on your table at the 'George.' 
 
 "We shall be forgiven, doubtless," added 
 Captain Lofty. 
 
 Charlotte put her inquisitive head forward, 
 and asked — "And are you, indeed, bound to 
 refuse ladies to dine with the admiral ?" 
 
 " Oh, yes ; etiquette demands it," rephed 
 Captain Lofty ; "' such invitations frequently 
 are councils of war. It is implied that as it is 
 necessary to see you, instead of keeping seve- 
 ral officers away fi*om their dinner, that the 
 same object may be attained by social inter- 
 course. If unimportant, you are easily ex- 
 cused, of which the secretary generally will 
 inform you." 
 
 " And do you exact the same on board your 
 
 ships ?" 
 
 " Yes ! In some cases necessity requires 
 
 VOL. II. I
 
 114 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 even the exertion of actual compulsion. But 
 unless an ofBcer has a cause on which he is 
 prepared to prefer charges against his captain 
 or admiral, he is a most egregious fool for de- 
 clining. But I see Ellen properly forbids 
 ship affairs here." 
 
 The door now opened, "Lady and the 
 Misses Po.wer " were announced. Ellen did 
 the honours, and Lady Power having received 
 me most kindly, I fell instantly into conversa- 
 tion with the certainly very pretty daughters, 
 and congratulated myself on Ellen's having 
 discovered them. 
 
 Of course one of these pretty ones fell to 
 my lot, it was the youngest, rather timid, and 
 as far as my slight acquaintance helped me to 
 discover, had lived very retired. If it was ex- 
 pected that I should pay great attention, I fear 
 that I was very remiss. I was quite fatigued in 
 extorting yes and no, and waited for more ac- 
 quaintance until I knew whether I liked them. 
 
 In the presence of such powerful lights as 
 Charlotte and Fanny, they shone faintly.
 
 HOEATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 115 
 
 Charlotte was on the left of Captain Noble, 
 next to Captain Lofty ; Fanny was opposite 
 me, and below Fitzjames, and all seemed to be 
 fully engaged with their own partners, except 
 Miss Power, who should have been on my 
 right, as she was evidently deserted by 
 Captain Noble, who, recollecting himself occa- 
 sionally, turned round to pay some little atten- 
 tion. I tried to fire across the table, and get 
 her into conversation, and succeeded at length 
 in getting Fitzjames and Noble to remember 
 she belonged to one of them. Mrs. Howard 
 was on my right, and the rector at the foot of 
 the table. 
 
 Before dinner was over, by great exertion I 
 got my neighbour into conversation, and 
 efiected a cross-fire, maintained by Fanny and 
 myself, and the (allied Powers,) which I pushed 
 probably further than I otherwise would, sim- 
 ply to excite Fanny to make up for what 1 
 felt was almost want of civility. I was not sorry 
 when the ladies retired, for I was becoming un- 
 happy, and rather tired with my unsuccessful ex- 
 
 I 2
 
 116 HOEATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 ertions, as I thought, if pity be akin to love, I 
 am afraid that mine must have been very dis- 
 tantly related. 
 
 The tea was, by general consent, soon 
 announced, and we rejoined the ladies. The 
 conversation did flow a little more freely ; but 
 as I considered that I had sufficiently sacri- 
 ficed myself to civility at dinner time, and as 
 Charlotte, Fanny, Noble, and Fitzjames seemed 
 to be fully occupied with each other, so I took 
 to my old captain and Ellen, and was per- 
 mitted to share in their conversation. The 
 captain inquired — 
 
 " Horatio, when will you be ready to 
 pass ? " 
 
 " The first week in May, I think." 
 
 "Why, surely you know?" Ellen said. 
 
 "No he does not ; and that is a subject on 
 which I wish your advice." 
 
 Some sudden thought appeared now to 
 strike Ellen, and she fell into a reverie, which 
 lasted during several minutes. Her com- 
 panions were far too polite to interrupt her.
 
 HORATIO HOAVARD BRENTON. 117 
 
 and quietly awaited her leisure. At length, 
 she said — 
 
 " Now, Captain Lofty, this young man has 
 not, I belie,ve, any legal title to the name 
 of Brenton ; and yet it would not be safe to 
 risk his legal claims by any change, before 
 they are tried and he attains his majority. He 
 is simply, in the baptismal register, called 
 Horatio Howard." 
 
 " The only reply I can make is, that his 
 surname never is given in the register except- 
 ing as — the son of — so and so, which is not 
 evidence, inasmuch as the clergyman cannot 
 vouch for the truth. It is evidence of age 
 only that he requires to pass with. As to his 
 name in the books of the navy, let him retain 
 all his names for the present. I Avill arrange 
 . that, or the doctor can if I am absent. Before 
 he receives his commission, whenever that 
 fortunate day may arrive, I would advise his 
 sending a notice, to say that it is his intention 
 when the law permits to be called simply by 
 the name which belongs to the property which
 
 J 18 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 may fall to him. But I have a strong reason 
 at present, that he should retain the name of 
 Brenton, as Lord St. Vincent is very tenacious, 
 and might withdraw his interest, which I have 
 reason to [know he is now exerting for the 
 grandfather's sake. But will you, Horatio, be 
 prepared with your logs, papers, certificates, 
 time, &c., on the 1st of May?" 
 
 ^'I shall be perfectly prepared when I 
 receive my baptismal register, which, I believe, 
 Ellen holds." 
 
 She bowed assent. 
 
 " Then, when Miss Percy informs me of the 
 date, I will get the admiral to grant a passing 
 day ; and no one can work you up better than 
 my friend Noble. During the time he is in 
 harbour, I am sure he will be delighted; I 
 almost fancy he would like to pass again, I 
 never saw such a mad boy, just look at him. 
 
 " And now, I think, there is an ominous 
 calm in the conversation. It is slack water, 
 and I think we must trip." 
 
 There was a general move.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON, 119 
 
 " Well, my boy," said Noble, as he was 
 leaving, " you recollect that you have not yet 
 returned my call ; I shall expect yoa." 
 
 " Oh ! yes, I will with you, sir, too soon, 
 perhaps, to-morrow." 
 
 " AU right — God bless you !" and with 
 other kind adieux, after shipping the ' allied 
 powers ' off, we were left alone. 
 
 It was a calm — dead calm — no more chirp- 
 ing, and each seemed too glad to steal off to 
 bed. 
 
 Breakfast on the following morning was 
 rather a silent meal, each individual's mind 
 somewhat resembling the mother Gary's 
 chicken or gull, pruning its feathers on a 
 glassy sea, with a little swell after a gale, and 
 being in that state of change from exuberant 
 spirits to more solemn reflection, when one 
 inquires — "What have I been saying?" 
 
 Shortly after breakfast, the Rector and I 
 set off for the town, where we had, each of us, 
 a good deal of business to transact. As soon 
 as I had found my two friends, the captains.
 
 120 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 I discovered tliat they "were in some degree of 
 excitement in consequence of information they 
 had received, respecting their future move- 
 ments. And to come to the pith at once, Cap- 
 tain Noble was to be removed with his ship's 
 company into a frigate, and Captain Lofty into 
 a ship of the line, as he had passed his ten 
 years. This he would consent to, but I saw 
 clearly that it did not suit his wishes, and he 
 at once said to Captain Noble — 
 
 " Look out for my men. I have no objec- 
 tion to your picking, I think the service 
 demands it, and we must manage it between 
 us. I see little chance of any more line-of- 
 battle ship actions, any men will do their duty 
 there." 
 
 And so they left me to concert with the 
 admiral before any official orders reached him. 
 
 In the course of the morning. Captain Noble 
 and I took the gig at ' The Point,' and went to 
 examine a pretty English- built frigate. Cap- 
 tain Noble did not seem to admire her, at 
 first ; but, as he went round the battery, and
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 121 
 
 measured the height of the deck, examined 
 the training of the fore and after guns, and 
 the spring of the decks, and as his keen eye 
 glanced — standing at the main hatchway — 
 alternately fore and aft, I saw that he was 
 better satisfied. He asked the gunner if she 
 sailed, and was informed that, " she did, when 
 they caught her trim and gave her the dimity ; 
 but she was a wayward minx in the hands of 
 many. 
 
 " Pray, sir, do you know her trim ?" 
 
 " I do, sir ; but what can a poor gunner 
 say when there's so many more that like to 
 have their say ! I know when to hold my 
 tongue, sir." 
 
 " Indeed ! — I suppose, until you are de- 
 sired to clear the magazine ?" 
 
 " Why, then, sir, you knows we couimand 
 below ; and all above us must believe we do 
 our duty." 
 
 '' And, sir, if that secret happens to be 
 stowed in your magazine, 1 suppose it comes 
 up, if ordered ?"
 
 122 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 " Certainly, sir ; that I was well schooled 
 in by one Captain Lofty, when he was a lieu- 
 tenant." 
 
 " Well, sir, I am to command this ship, and 
 I shall retain you. I was once the first-lieu- 
 tenant of that said Captain Lofty ; and you 
 will call upon him immediately at the 'George' 
 — say by my order." 
 
 *' Oh ! by Captain Noble's order. Ay, ay, 
 sir." 
 
 " "Well, and what kind of man is the car- 
 penter ?" continued Noble. 
 
 " Sir ! a man fit for anything — as much a 
 seaman as a carpenter — would get the ship on 
 to those dockyard walls, if you only gave the 
 order." 
 
 " Well, quick ! both your names ?" 
 
 " Mine, sir, is Briggs ; carpenter's, sir, is 
 Williams." 
 
 So Noble noted them down, and we then 
 went to the dockyard, where we met the com- 
 missioner, who said — 
 
 " Why, Noble, they tell me you are to have
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 123 
 
 the Diana ; she is ordered to be ready by the 
 10th May. Sharp work, that !" 
 
 " Well, commissioner, all we can say is — if 
 the dockyard are ready, I shall be only forty- 
 eight hours- after you turn her out." 
 
 "Well! my good fellow, you will dine with 
 us on the 10th of May, if ready for sea? 
 And bring an officer with you — two, if it suits 
 you!" 
 
 " I shall accept, sir, and bring one or two, 
 according to circumstances. It is possible this 
 may be No. 2, sir. Allow me to introduce to 
 you Mr. Horatio Howard." 
 
 " I shall be most happy to become ac- 
 quainted with any follower of Captain Noble." 
 
 " No, sir, I was only one of his nurses. He 
 belongs to Captain Lofty." 
 
 " Well, I must be silent. But, young fel- 
 low, you are very fortunate ! Few lads in 
 the navy can name such friends." 
 
 As we parted, the commissioner said — "We 
 see very little of you Noble. It is not our 
 fault." — He bowed, and promised to behave 
 better, now he was to be in harbour.
 
 124 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 *' And now, young fellow, I am your pass- 
 ing captain for the day, be good enough to 
 mast that ship in the basin. Lots of spars 
 there." 
 
 " Well, that was done." 
 
 " Very good — but the mast is bad, we must 
 cut down another from the wood here. Do 
 you know how to select one ? " 
 
 " No, sir." 
 
 '' Well, that I could better explain to you 
 on the spot — I will write it out for you ; but, 
 remember, investigate all such matters ; one 
 well-timed reply — the result of thought beyond 
 the routine — stamps character. I have seen five 
 or six trees felled — none good, and the seventh 
 split by injudicious felling. This I will explain 
 very shortly. One heavy blow would cause 
 you to fall with a general concussion to your 
 frame ; a blow on some less dangerous part 
 would enable you to stagger, and eventually 
 fall exhausted, using your limbs. 
 
 "Now trees, having this same condition, 
 never commence your cut on the open or
 
 ■ HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 125 
 
 exposed side. The lee, or southerly, is often 
 more porous, and offers less resistance. Cal- 
 culate, if you can, that in its fall, it will 
 be impeded by other adjacent, smaller trees 
 — when you have passed its centre, you will 
 hear it crack — make your carpenter cut always 
 oblique, downwards. The tree inclines to- 
 wards the* side-cut — at every cut see, that 
 when it breaks, it does not form a lever on 
 the under side, by rough cuts unfinished, or 
 or it will split up — and be cautious after it 
 falls — perhaps, to sixty degrees — that your 
 off-cuts do not produce splinters. Some 
 men, indeed, think it preferable to girdle 
 first. 
 
 " Well, sir, between this and the 5th of 
 May, you will see the rigging of the JDiana, 
 and I shall be glad to instruct you, as our old 
 boatswain will join, and the wound of Mr. 
 Fitzjames will require that I shall assist him 
 in my own peculiar modes of rig. And now 
 let us visit the rigging-house. There, I ex- 
 pect, we shall find some of our rigging in pro-
 
 126 HORATIO nOWAED BRENTON. 
 
 gress — stretching the hawsers, perhaps. All 
 this will be new to you, and will guide you in 
 setting up rigging. There is an elastic force, 
 beyond which it is unsafe to stretch hemp. It 
 does not complain ; but mast and rigging go 
 together from its being over-stretched. You 
 shall see this proved. 
 
 After some conversation, we found the 
 rigging in hand was for the Diana. 
 
 "Well, I would wish my men and officers 
 to be present. Can you take anything else 
 for a few days ? — I am Captain Noble." 
 
 " Oh, yes, sir ! but we were told you were 
 hard pushed." 
 
 " Not quite to a day," he observed. 
 
 " Now have you any broken rope ? — I mean 
 that which has been broken by the proof." 
 
 " Oh, yes, sir ! — here is a piece." 
 
 He unlaid a strand, and we then could 
 trace extensive internal ruptures of the fibres. 
 
 " Now make a bowline knot or any hitch 
 with that rope, and apply the Aveights. It will 
 yield at some hundreds less."
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 127 
 
 The master-rigger thought not, but tried. 
 First with eight hundred weight. 
 It went hke a carrot. 
 
 " Now try it again, merely at its end." 
 
 It bore the proof — straight. 
 
 "Well," sir, said the master-rigger, ''you 
 are right, sir, but I cannot see why." 
 
 "Simply," my good sir, because you put it 
 to a greater strain than it is ever intended 
 safely to bear." 
 
 Under such instruction I was prepared for 
 passing. 
 
 As we walked towards Portsmouth, Fitz- 
 james, looking almost wild, met us, and ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 " Oh, sir ! I am afraid we are to be turned 
 adrift, and you are to have some frigate up the 
 harbour ! " 
 
 " True, my dear sir ; but we are to be con- 
 solidated. Pick that Amelia of all the old 
 Cleopatras ! Our crew, and officers ; and 
 Diana will shed her pale light to show us 
 where to find amusement ! "
 
 128 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 *' Well, sir, if you are satisfied ; but we 
 were all so snug, and she sails so well ! more 
 credit to take a frigate in her, sir." 
 
 " Perhaps so ; but stir your stumps, or we 
 may lose some of the Cleopatra's. Find 
 Captain Lofty, and take his orders." 
 
 ''Aye, aye, sir;" and he vanished, giving 
 me a look, as much as to say — Duty calls. 
 
 We found Captain Lofty at the ' George,' 
 very low spirited. A second dispatch, by 
 express, reached the admiral, and the morrow 
 would change many who little expected to be 
 disturbed. He would have the Northumber- 
 land, which had a fine ship's company, and he 
 was permitted only a boat's crew from the 
 Amelia. Her crew was to complete the Diana. 
 
 He had the admiral's order to discharge 
 into the Diana the men named in the enclosed 
 list, which he was to fill up. This he gave to 
 Captain Noble, and Noble, transferring it to 
 Fitzjames, Captain Lofty said — " I will insert 
 the boat's crew," placed the steward, cook, 
 and coxswain, and returned the paper.
 
 ^ 
 
 i 
 
 " 'HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 129 
 
 All tliis must be tame to my readers ; but 
 to the ^ old war dogs' it will bring back many 
 a brotherly feeling, now for ever extinct, as 
 the type of what then was termed " the true- 
 hearted sailor," that term which set the hearts 
 of as many true-hearted maids glowing with 
 an enthusiasm which possibly has produced 
 the " new school." The talent may be im- 
 proved, but the generous spirit which made 
 Christians, I may say, of our noble profession, 
 is extinct. 
 
 We reached home, and there, indeed, found 
 rest. It was late, and our customary happy 
 evening passed, not, however, without inci- 
 dent ; nature, indeed, seemed to keep my in- 
 tellect moving. A very ominous pile of letters 
 lay upon the table. 
 
 VOL. II. K
 
 130 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 CHAPTEE XI. 
 
 When the other members of the household had 
 retired to rest, Ellen, my mother, the rector, 
 and myself, sat in council in the library. Ellen 
 being the most masculine where energy was 
 required, opened the business. My mother 
 was peculiarly depressed. 
 
 " Here is a threatening letter, calling upon 
 Mrs. Howard Brenton to assert the rights of 
 her son, and that speedily, or all his claims 
 will be swept away, and his mother left in 
 penury. 
 
 " Then she is incited to look narrowly into, 
 and question the right of one, calling herself
 
 J 
 
 ^'HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 131 
 
 Emily Percy, as to her management of the 
 estates, and to make her appear in court, and 
 declare her true name, establish her rights, 
 and show by what authority she exercises them. 
 
 " Finally-y if this is not done before the third 
 day of May, 1815, that ruin will visit the 
 whole family." 
 
 Ellen folded her arms, threw herself back on 
 the sofa, and was silent, deep in thought ; but 
 her eye was like that of the basilisk, and now 
 we had a sudden metamorphosis. The quiet, 
 retiring rector was transformed into the ani- 
 mated, spirited, even youthful advocate ; his 
 eye became unnaturally bright. 
 
 " Still living ! " he exclaimed. " Would not 
 the wrong inflicted on the father, the father- 
 less and widow, satisfy his dastardly, cringing, 
 murderous disposition. Did he think to 
 elude our vigilance? Did he imagine this 
 shallow trick would breed that dissension here, 
 which might indirectly favour his evasion bf 
 the laws of his country at a future day ?" 
 
 He dropped into his chair, quite overcome 
 
 K 2
 
 132 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 by his feelings — relapsed into the rector. My 
 mother had fainted, and was carried to the 
 sofa at the further end of the room. When 
 Ellen returned, she explained that she was 
 present when the letters arrived, and 
 my mother, deeming the first '* a business 
 letter," had thrown it to Ellen. Her quick 
 sight detected at once whom it was from, and 
 she retained the packet in her right, as one of 
 my guardians. 
 
 Ellen now commenced : — 
 
 " I did not on my own bare judgment 
 choose to act ; but, the rector being now 
 associated, we have full powers. 
 
 "It is my painful province to inform you, 
 Horatio, of sufficient to put you on your 
 guard, to prevent the completion of the design 
 upon what may become your inheritance — and, 
 if not yours, mine 1 You, therefore, will un- 
 derstand how great my anxiety is to prevent 
 any human being possessing such a malicious 
 lever as to cause it to appear that I could by 
 any means profit by your failure in heritage. 
 In order that no such control or accident
 
 J 
 
 ' HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 133 
 
 should occur, I have remained free from the 
 control of a husband. 
 
 " Now, it painfully occurs to me that, 
 during the next two years, you will be 
 terribly beset — your temper severely tried, 
 and every effort made to provoke you to com- 
 mit some breach of those conditions, by strict 
 compliance with which alone you can gain 
 your inheritance. Remember, that a duel 
 would, in my conscience, bar your claim ! I 
 would refuse my signature. I have already 
 told you more than the law authorizes, unless 
 threatened ; and be prepared to hear the 
 worst, and may God sustain your courage 
 and resolution. Your enemy is your mother's 
 brother ! He ruined your father ! He con- 
 trols — not by affection, but by the most 
 dreadful tyranny — your mother ! He was 
 supposed to be dead, but that writing, all this 
 machinery" — pointing to the papers — " is his! 
 You must contrive to remain out of England 
 until you are of age, then I can safely sign, 
 and you must prosecute this monster — this
 
 134 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 would be assassin of your mother, sister, your- 
 self — and, perhaps, me !" 
 
 She seemed, overcome, and remained 
 for some time alarmingly quiet; but as I 
 chafed her hands, and kissed her cheek, she 
 seemed to recover herself, and exclaimed — 
 
 " What tyranny ! and this was the man who 
 wished to be — oh ! — my — husband !" 
 
 She had fainted ! And now the other ladies 
 came to her aid, and by salts, &c., she soon 
 recovered. Tears came to her relief. 
 
 " Now, Horatio, do promise me to be very 
 cautious in making any new friendships; weigh 
 well the consequences — not only to yourself 
 and sister, but to me." 
 
 Suddenly my mother broke forth in that 
 strange, abrupt manner of hers. 
 
 " Oh ! surely this is another of those plans 
 of my wicked brother ! He will destroy me ! 
 This, Horatio, has been the cause of all my de- 
 pressing illness. He is unknown, unseen, sup- 
 posed dead, yet at intervals these letters arrive. 
 Fortunately, this time in the presence of Ellen.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 135 
 
 It is hard to destroy a brother ! But he seeks 
 to destroy us ail. He will now hang upon 
 your steps, is now, doubtless, near — a gam- 
 bler — a jockey — an officer in the guards — he 
 will assume every shape ; his figure and 
 manners pass him everywhere. Oh ! how I 
 pray you may never meet ! Be cautious, do, 
 Horatio, for all our sakes, but a few days 
 more and I, lately so anxious for your delay 
 here, will bless the hour of your departure !" 
 
 On the following Friday, on visiting the 
 Diana, I found her preparing for new masts, 
 which were to be replaced that day alongside 
 the sheerhulk. The order had arrived for 
 commissioning her, and the corvette was 
 alongside her hulk transporting stores. In 
 eight days more I was to be ready to pass, 
 and eleven days after we were to be ready 
 to go out of harbour. That was boys play to 
 our hands ; forty-eight hours could send us to 
 sea whenever the captain willed. But we had 
 yet only one lieutenant ; who the other two 
 were to be, nobody could guess. Ilaskins boldly
 
 136 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 said, " Fitzjames is your third ; at all events, 
 if he is not acting, he will do duty as 
 second in the ship." So thought Fitzjames. 
 The captain was very uneasy about the second, 
 at all events ; hut he had not to wait long, 
 for to our surprise, John Stuart and Robert 
 Hudson presented their commissions, the for- 
 mer senior to Fitzjames. The captain bit his 
 lip and treated them both very courteously, 
 and told them forty-eight hours hence, or on 
 Monday, he would read them iu. Mr. Hudson 
 would appear on Sunday to relieve Mr. 
 Fitzjames, on leave. 
 
 On reaching home again, I found from 
 many significant signs that an understanding 
 had been come to between Charlotte and 
 Noble, and that they only waited for ' leave ! ' 
 
 After dinner I first commenced the subject 
 with Ellen, and she agreed entirely with me, 
 that under present circumstances it would be 
 inexpedient ; and that until I was of age, no 
 valid arrangements could be made.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 137 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 The eventful fifth arrived. Captain Lofty 
 had requested me to take breakfast with him, 
 as he wished to examine my logs, papers, &c., 
 before presenting myself, and before he could 
 conscientiously give me my final certificate. 
 As yet I had only the common servitude 
 document. Having satisfied him, he said, " I 
 have seen logs better kept, but in those cases 
 the officers had more leisure, looked more to 
 effect, and their attention possibly was com-' 
 pulsory. Here is a letter which your passing 
 captains will open; and I trust you will pass your 
 ordeal with credit," shaking me by the hand. I
 
 138 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 pushed on to the guard ship and there found 
 three perfect strangers, austere-looking men, 
 and, as T thought, determined to put me to 
 the test. 
 
 But to business : the time, logs, and certi- 
 ficates satisfied the examining officers that 
 they were justified in proceeding. There were 
 three of us. Each took one apart. I was 
 taken into the after-cabin. 
 
 " You belong to theDiana, sir, late of Amelia. 
 You will rig and take the Diana to Spithead, 
 and moor her ; the wind on the latter day 
 being N.E." 
 
 This I did satisfactorily. 
 
 "Now, sir, you will unmoor, take her out 
 by the Needles, for which I perceive by your 
 journal that you assume some experience, and 
 bring her back to Spithead by the eastward." 
 
 This was done, and my captain shook hands 
 and said he would be glad at any time to 
 make room for me as a lieutenant in his 
 ship. 
 
 As we returned to the main cabin, I found
 
 HORATIO HOAVARD BRENTON. 139 
 
 the others had been severely tested, by asking 
 after their fathers, mothers, sisters, or high 
 connexions ! 
 
 We received our certificates and were de- 
 sired to repair to the admiral's office. On 
 deck I found Captain Noble, He had asked 
 to be excused from being one of the examining 
 captains ; but he congratulated me most sin- 
 cerely, informing me that he had specially 
 requested of a friend to press me hard, and he 
 was sure he had done his duty. " Now come 
 along to the admiral." 
 
 My reception was flattering ; the admiral 
 wished me to dine, but added — 
 
 " You are at liberty to decline, as you may 
 prefer to pass this day at home. I shall ex- 
 pect you to dine here on the day on which 
 your captain dines before he quits harbour." 
 
 " I shall have great pleasure in obeying 
 your commands, sir." I bowed and retired, 
 and at the customary hour we were on our 
 road to Champion Villa, doctor and Fitzjames 
 in tow.
 
 140 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 Charlotte and the captain were now acknow- 
 ledged friends, but no binding engagement 
 beyond the assurance, on either side, that 
 they would respectively decline any other 
 alliance. 
 
 When the following Sunday arrived, every- 
 one seemed to view it with a more than 
 usually solemn feeling — it was our last to- 
 gether, for years perhaps. At four, the 
 captain came out from Portsmouth ; his coun- 
 tenance, generally unreadable, now exhibited 
 marked changes — shades of pleasure, doubt, 
 pain, and gratification played alternately, 
 puzzling even Ellen, to whom, I thought, he 
 showed considerable reserve. But I saw that 
 he was acting some part which conflicted with 
 his habits, and calling Captain Noble, he said, 
 " I wish to see you in your room." We did 
 not meet until dinner. Then he was quite 
 himself again, and indeed cheerful. 
 
 Dinner passed, and the cloth was removed. 
 The glasses had been sipped to the customary 
 loyal toast — when with one of those dry
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 141 
 
 unmeaning countenances, which Captain Noble 
 could so well aiFect, be said, "Madam and 
 reverend sir, I bave a letter of some im- 
 portance to that young man, perhaps you 
 would allow him to explain it himself." And, 
 at the same time, handing to me an official 
 letter. Ellen interrupted us and said — 
 
 " Oh ! bow I do bate those foolscap letters. 
 Do not read it now I " 
 
 But Captain Noble observed — " Time is 
 important — and he can explain better now." 
 
 " Well, Horatio, I am compelled to consent. 
 No one supports me." 
 
 Hereupon I cut the paper with the dessert 
 knife. 
 
 "Ah!" exclaimed Ellen, " I see you bave 
 not forgotten my advice." 
 
 To my surprise, it informed me of my pro- 
 motion, and that I was to apply at the com- 
 missioners' office for my commission. 
 
 * * » * 
 
 "You are now, sir," said Captain Lofty, on 
 the perusal of that document, "the junior-
 
 142 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 lieutenant of H.M.S. Diana May your 
 future course be as creditable as your pro- 
 bationary has been." 
 
 " You, my lieutenant ! " exclaimed Captain 
 Noble, with affected surprise. " Well, sir, I 
 hope you will now put off the boy." 
 
 "Not until you do, I hope!" exclaimed 
 Captain Lofty. 
 
 The ladies retired. Fitzjames pressed one 
 side, Haskins the other, and each read the 
 commission. 
 
 "I knew it throughout," said Haskins. 
 '' I knew it must be, and my good fellow (sir, I 
 mean, bowing), no one feels more pride in the 
 verification of my great wisdom than your 
 humble servant — but, I fear, never to be your 
 own lieutenant." 
 
 Poor fellow, his countenance fell and he 
 coughed, as the doctor said, very unsatis- 
 factorily. 
 
 The next morning, I was awoke by Louisa 
 kissing the new lieutenant. 
 
 "Are you not ashamed, you puss? An
 
 " 'HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 143 
 
 officer of my age and importance ! Get oat 
 of my room, I am going to dress ! " 
 
 Slie retreated to the door. " Sure, sir, you 
 can't be angry? that bit of parchment does 
 not cover your heart, sir. It does not make 
 you forget us, does it, sir ? " 
 
 " Oh, no ! Louisa, but circumspection. 
 Before witnesses I care not." 
 
 " But father is here," and the old man 
 rushed in and pressed my hand, covering it 
 with tears. 
 
 " Oh ! sir, one favour — the last we shall 
 ever ask." 
 
 ''Well, proceed." 
 
 " Let us see the Diana, with all the men and 
 officers assembled, before you sail. The gig's 
 crew have told us such tales — such nonsense 
 about decks cleaner than my tables ! — fit for a 
 prince to dine off. No, no, Mr. Horatio — we 
 must see that, and I must put on my spectacles 
 too, before I can believe it." 
 
 " Well, I promise ; but it is not fair to criti- 
 cise a ship either in harbour or only fourteen
 
 144 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 days in commission. But do you just let the 
 lads know you are coming to inspect^ and 
 I am very much mistaken if they do not make 
 you open your eyes, and believe many far 
 more improbable stories in future." 
 
 The captain took me to the admiral, whose 
 pleasure I can only term fatherly. He called 
 me ' his boy,' and his eyes glistened as if he 
 had lost some such lamented pet. But he in- 
 quired of Captain Noble when th^ Diana would 
 be ready. 
 
 " To-morrow, I think, sir ; but Thursday I 
 am informed is fixed for the ' ready for going 
 out of harbour.' " 
 
 " You will go out, sir, on Thursday — you 
 will dine with me on Friday — and Saturday's 
 post, I expect, will bring your final orders. This 
 ofiicer knows my wishes ; but as he is now a lieu- 
 tenant, I shall send him an official invitation." 
 
 We bowed and retired, went on board, 
 found top-gallant- yards across, decks clean, 
 and Stuart's blue eyes speaking unmistakeably, 
 " I hope this meets approval."
 
 ^HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 145 
 
 " Give us your hand, Stuart, how I shall 
 grieve to lose you ! — here is the junior lieu- 
 tenant, but as he has no uniform, I cannot 
 read him in, we will defer it all until to- 
 morrow. And now, Stuart, we go out on 
 Thursday — how will the tide suit ?" 
 
 At noon we lunched on board. The ad- 
 miral's invitation arrived. I took possession 
 of my cabin, and the second wished to leave. 
 " He would leave when the admiral pleased." 
 
 I answered my invitation, we called upon 
 the commissioner, apologized for the inter- 
 cepted commission, and Captain Noble said — 
 
 " This is the second I promised to bring on 
 Thursday ; the Diana is ready for sea, as far 
 as her captain is concerned," bowing. 
 
 " Oh ! yes. Noble, it gratifies me exceed- 
 ingly ; when all work so smoothly, the credit 
 is reflected on our department, we feel the 
 compliment and share in it. The peremptory 
 order I have this moment received, that you 
 are to go, wind and weather permitting, to 
 Spithead on Thursday, evinces the determi- 
 
 VOL. II. L
 
 146 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 nation of our excellent admiral to make a 
 flaming report." 
 
 We parted. My tailor had his hint ; all my 
 uniforms were ready, the epaulette had then 
 been added to the uniform ; and when I went 
 to try the fit nothing could be more complete. 
 
 But other matters had to be settled. The 
 trouble and difficulties of manhood were steal- 
 ing on me. Deeds were to be signed on my 
 attaining my majority, for the acts of my uncle 
 had rendered investigations necessary, which 
 disclosed more property than even Ellen had 
 been aware of. I was supplied with documents 
 enabling me, if I should be absent, to confirm 
 Ellen as my trustee fol:* the interests of my 
 sister. These things I may explain incor- 
 rectly, but such a mass of parchment had to 
 pass before my eyes, that both they and my 
 attention became quite worn out. 
 
 The dinner at the commissioner's passed off 
 pleasantly, but very quietly. That at the 
 admiral's was very gay, and I was not without, 
 I trust, some little honest pride at displaying
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 147 
 
 the uniform of a lieutenant on one of such 
 tender years. Forgive it, reader, it was the 
 result of moral discipline — it was the reward 
 which must, sooner or later, be accorded to it. 
 
 But modesty forbids my telling the further 
 public compliments paid me by the kind ad- 
 miral. One, however, is public property, and 
 that, even at the risk of contempt in my old 
 age, I will not withhold. It was the reading 
 of Lord St. Vincent's private opinion to him 
 of his estimate of my future career. 
 
 Why, reader, do I thus act ? To excite the 
 present generation to carry back the feelings 
 of " the old war school," to make men fit, 
 even if juniors, to command the British fleet ! 
 
 These words will arouse many, even Nelson ! 
 He cannot be easy in his present cold berth. 
 But to business, still in the presence of ladies. 
 This is what the admiral said : "■ Ladies and 
 gentlemen, you will excuse a foolish old ad- 
 miral. (Roars, "Not old, not foolish, a trump.") 
 I have a message, not telegraphic, from one 
 whom we all, at least, revere — another old 
 
 L 2
 
 148 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 chip, like myself. (Great confusion, ladies 
 worse than gentlemen.) Well, this is highly 
 improper ; where is the officer of the court." 
 Up started the flag captain, — " Here, sir." 
 
 " Pray keep order, while I read Lord St. 
 Vincent's letter." 
 « Dear , 
 
 " You tell me that you have invited 
 young Howard Brenton to dine with you, 
 and that he has now received his commission 
 to the Diana. I have not the honour of know- 
 ing his captain — a Noble, you tell me. Desire 
 him to come here and prove your words. But 
 this man, capable now of commanding the 
 Channel fleet, tell him that his discretion, his 
 judgment, his secrecy, must gain him the con- 
 fidence of man, woman, and child. I shall 
 concentrate my whole fire to push that fellow 
 forward. 
 
 '" Yours, &c., 
 
 " Vincent." 
 
 There was a dead silence. '* Produce the 
 culprit. Captains Lofty and Noble, with some
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 149 
 
 little feeling, led me forward and placed me 
 before the admiral. It would be absurd in me 
 to say more. It was a piece of burlesque, if 
 you please, but it caused many a wet hand- 
 kerchief; it passed to the hearts of fathers, 
 mothers, and sisters, and for a time, like the 
 seed which fell on good ground, had its influ- 
 ence. How I got home, I cannot relate. 
 
 However, time flies; and after the Diana 
 was at Spithead, the admiral intimated his 
 intention to inspect her on this day at one. 
 As he left, I thought this would be the time 
 for the servants ; she never would be cleaner. 
 And I thought, to myself — ' Well this may do 
 some good even to the land-lubbers, when they 
 see how beautifully clean and comfortable a 
 ship of war is.' And as it was very probable 
 we should be paid, and sail possibly that 
 night, all the family were included, and came 
 off in a second barge furnished by the com- 
 missioner. 
 
 The inspection of such a body of picked 
 men touched up the old admiral.
 
 150 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 "I say, Noble, do exchange with me. 
 Really, my young blood is coming back. 
 But I cannot stand it any longer. May 
 you meet an enemy fit to cope with you — that 
 is my best wish. Call on me to-night ; you 
 will sail before daylight." 
 
 As he went over the side, he whispered, " No 
 cheering, I hate it, as a sign of hollow mouths 
 and hollow hearts — never encourage it. The 
 eyes of your men tell me where their hearts 
 are." Thus quitted this fine oflicer. 
 
 Now the ladies came alongside, and I could 
 see the signal passed fore and aft — captain's 
 intended— old butler — pretty nurse, &c. &c., 
 for I was part and parcel of that crew. As 
 one was my own sister, and th$ others rela- 
 tives, I cannot say more. 
 
 Leaving them to the captains, I deserted, 
 and escorted the old butler (his daughter 
 sticking to him with almost infantine fear and 
 modesty) and their party round the decks. 
 And, at last, the old man, thinking he had 
 found a defect, put on his spectacles, and
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 151 
 
 knelt down to examine it, but it was only 
 a rust stain. 
 
 At length, drawing a long breath, he ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 " Well, Mr. Horatio, you beat us /" 
 
 " But there are no coal fires here, and 
 carpets to catch the dust ! " exclaimed Louisa, 
 rather pertly. 
 
 " But," said I, " will you take up your 
 carpets, and let us see what is under ? " 
 
 "No!" 
 
 She looked scorpions and scrubbing-brushes. 
 
 "I suppose this is the reason you want 
 your hammock-man ; you are only spoiled 
 here." 
 
 And now, having landed at Portsmouth, 
 and been the guests of Captain Lofty at the 
 * George,' the parting hour arrived — the more 
 sacred as we advance in life. The captain 
 received his orders, and at eight p.m. we re- 
 joined Diana rather lower in spirits. But I 
 cannot quit harbour without relating one 
 fijie trait of generous feeling, worthy of old
 
 152 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 Bowers. Fitzjames saw the captain would 
 feel loth to part with Stuart. He felt he 
 would cement our happiness ; and though, as 
 first lieutenant, he would, of necessity, of 
 right, gain his promotion, he volunteered, if 
 Stuart would remain, he would take the posi- 
 tion of second under him. This was arranged 
 and confirmed by the admiral, and, as he said, 
 would be duly reported to the Admiralty and 
 Lord St. Vincent, to whom he looked as the 
 genius still of discipline. 
 
 Morning missed Diana — she was below the 
 horizon, and the old gunner began to show his 
 significant droll countenance over the main- 
 tack block. Captain Noble was walking with 
 me, rubbing his hands, and shaking his whole 
 frame, as if for exercise, when he made him out. 
 
 " Ho ! Mr. Briggs, a few words with you. 
 Stuart — where is he ? " 
 
 "Here, sir." 
 
 "Well, Stuart, Briggs knows the humour of 
 this witch. Give him fan* play; then you 
 shall try — or any one else that can take her
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 153 
 
 humour ; and, lastly, myself. She has a speed 
 in her, and we must find it soon. They tell 
 me she is given to drink — to go down one dog- 
 watch, and come up the next — and sends her 
 favours aft to the helmsman. Now, I am up 
 to that trick, too, and that shows metal re- 
 sulting from her fine run. We must keep the 
 bow guns aft until they are wanted." 
 
 Up went Briggs' right arm. " That's it, sir 
 — you have hit her — only keep her nose out 
 of water, and she is as fine a lass as ever sat 
 on the ocean." 
 
 In twenty-four hours she went through her 
 exercise, and we all felt our appetites return, 
 and our feet in our shoes, as the guns and 
 shifting ballast came aft. 
 
 Well, the old game, Brest first. Here we 
 met Bevolutionnaire — gave her the loose let- 
 ters, and catch me, if you can, to admiral. 
 Here were many friends ; but only those who 
 came to see old friends caught a sight. De- 
 spatches exchanged — up went the signal, " Try 
 rate of sailing" — Bevolutionnaire s pendants
 
 154 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 — Did we not make her very giddy before 
 night — out of signal distance in four hours — 
 " Good-bye, my lord," 
 
 Now for Basque Roads. 
 
 Up went the demand from a frigate — 
 another beauty — the Belle Poule. Poor bird ! 
 do not ruffle your feathers, we have a new 
 captain, and now it will not do. 
 
 " Eecal, sir." 
 
 " Indeed." 
 
 " Do you see the squadron ?" 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 "The flag?" 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Hoist answering pendant — obey both — 
 but hoist ' Charged with despatches.' " 
 
 " Admiral has affirmed, sir." 
 
 " Steer for him." 
 
 " Frigate has fired a gun, sir ; so has admi- 
 ral, and hoisted ' Recal all vessels.' " 
 
 " Hoist ' Recal,' and continue gun for gun 
 with admiral." 
 
 So we drew in.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 155 
 
 " Signal for captain of Belle Poule." 
 
 " All right, sir. No doubt, the admiral 
 wishes to see him." 
 
 Admiral has hauled down ' Eecal.' 
 
 " Follow his motions." 
 
 Well, the captain waited on the admiral — 
 was very handsomely received, and charged 
 with despatches for Sir Home Popham, sup- 
 posed to be off Bilboa or Portugalette, near 
 St. Sebastians. Not a pilot on board. No. 2 
 supernumerary sent to Belle Poule. The 
 admiral wished Belle Poule to try rate of sail- 
 ing, but not to interfere with or retard Diana 
 — to return to station in twenty-four hours. 
 
 This afforded a very smart beat out to 
 round Chasseron, and then six hours off the 
 wind — three a-beam, two on quarter, and one 
 before it. 
 
 Very small chickens to boast of. Belle Poule. 
 Do not crow — although, to do you justice, 
 you sail well. We only wish you had some 
 other ensign at your peak; and my impression 
 is, that all those flying kites would prove
 
 156 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 your ruin ! Pretty as you are, we dusted 
 your feathers, and you went back to say you 
 * never got within hail.' We had no flying kites, 
 but sailed ready for instant action — stays 
 snaked — stopped at every three fathoms — 
 back stays the same — chains aloft — everything 
 about as ready — only to beat to quarters. 
 But a well-prepared ship never is fortunate, 
 excepting the Shannon. But there were 
 numerous Shannons — but none lucky enough 
 Ho teach the young ideas how to shoot.' Even 
 his noble consort, Tenedos, could not find a 
 mate. She would have told a very similar 
 tale, I suspect. 
 
 But to our own business. We were on a 
 strange coast ; no pilot, and charts indifferent. 
 As to in-shore work — as to sounding — it was 
 look aloft for cliffs first, and think of sound- 
 ings when the anchor was ready to let go. 
 The wind and weather favoured us, and we 
 made the land near Machicaco, if I err not ; 
 finding Venerable, Diadem, Surveillante, &c., 
 at anchor off Portugalette, as the anchorage
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 157 
 
 near Bilboa is termed. Here we joined Sir 
 Home Popham, and first saw his signals dis- 
 played in demanding our number, which we 
 instantly answered with the old flags. This 
 was followed by ' Whence come you ? " Reply, 
 ' Portsmouth, Brest, Basque Roads.' 
 
 The captain waited on him, was invited to 
 dinner, and learning that the junior lieutenant 
 was the signal officer pro tern, I was also 
 invited, not without some misgiving. But Sir 
 Home was a very deep thinking man, always 
 inclined to attach any one he thought would 
 serve his purpose, and, therefore, very anxious 
 to induce me to join the Venerable. But 
 Diana had more charms for me. We were 
 supplied with the new flags and signal book, 
 invented by Sir Home, and, to render us still 
 more alert, made repeating ship. This, un- 
 fortunately, made me a prisoner, as there was 
 ho one else to whom the captain would trust 
 our newly-won credit. Therefore, until I saw 
 Sir Home on the move, I never visited the 
 shore.
 
 158 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 Many sharp things now took place ; landing 
 and embarking guns and men, and the neat 
 capture of Gataria. But venerable Sir Home 
 gave way to smart Sir George Collier ; and 
 after a short cruize sweeping forty leagues west 
 of Cape St. Vincent, and daily crossing the 
 tracks of French frigates all the way up the 
 Bay of Biscay, where they were being taken by 
 heavy, dull cruizers, and almost by eighteen- 
 gun brigs ; we found ourselves one morning 
 in 1814, in chase oflf the Scilly Islands, dead 
 to the westward. Three days did we stick to 
 this phantom without losing sight, and whether 
 she went down or not, no one can tell. She 
 mysteriously ran against a fog-bank, as the 
 boatswain had it, and was swamped. She was, 
 apparently, a very large corvette, hove guns, 
 spars, and every available object overboard; 
 and as a fearful westerly gale succeeded, and we 
 got well to windward and searched down 
 south-easterly, until we reached smooth 
 water without a trace, I believe that she 
 must have foundered.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 159 
 
 It is melancholy even to lose an enemy 
 thus, but she, no doubt, meditated greater 
 misery to individuals on our own beloved 
 coasts. Our cruize was to continue to the ex- 
 tent of our provisions, and these we took care 
 to replace by homeward-bound cruizers, touch- 
 ing at the Azores, Madeira, and Teneriffe, until 
 the early part of the year, when we met a 
 French ship of the line and a frigate, under the 
 Drapeau Blanc, off Cherbourg, and led them 
 into Spithead in very nasty weather, the 
 Colosse, I think, with an admiral's flag. 
 
 We were signalled to keep underweigh, and 
 no communication allowed ; then there was a 
 signal for captain. He left, and I had some 
 surmise that this might relate to my humble 
 self On the return of the captain it was evident 
 that some one was sought; he never told who. 
 
 Now we reth'ed to study our letters, peace 
 with France, and other exciting news — too 
 common at that period. The captain sent to 
 speak with me, and I then learned that we 
 were oflf to Newfoundland with the spring con-
 
 160 HORATIO HOWAUD BRENTON. 
 
 voy, and were to await the old Bellerophon, 
 Sir Eichard Keats, at Torbay, acting whipper- 
 in until they arrived. 
 
 We reached Torbay the next morning, and 
 our first acquaintance with peaceable France 
 was commenced by boarding a fishing boat, 
 swarming with men, women, and boys, out for 
 mackerel, of which we took all they would 
 spare, paying them pretty handsomely. The 
 next day, the admiral came bowling down with 
 a huge convoy and several other vessels of war, 
 one commanded by Captain A'Court, a friend 
 of our captain. For some special reason the 
 captain took me with him, and I there met 
 three or four more of the Halifax cruizers, one 
 as flag captain. The fish were acceptable, and 
 we passed out Channel. 
 
 If there is any one duty more tedious than 
 another, it is whipping up a convoy, and this 
 seemed to be our sole occupation ; and not very 
 polite answers to our exhortations, ' to make 
 more sail,' oozed out. I suppose the character 
 of Captain Noble had been estimated as able
 
 J 
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTOJ^. 161 
 
 to stand all this, for I believe few other men 
 could have withstood what he did with such 
 cool effrontery. 
 
 Two masters he had brought on board wild 
 as lions when hailed, but before they got up the 
 side it is extraordinary how cool they were, and 
 how they began to smooth down their locks and 
 wipe their foreheads with their pocket-handker- 
 chiefs as they stood on each side confronted with 
 each other, no one taking the slightest notice 
 of them. Several times as the officer of the 
 watch, purposely or not I cannot say, sharply 
 called — " Send the boatswain's mate here — 
 see that those boats have good tow ropes,'* 
 these great men quailed as if they imagined 
 they were going to be flogged ; at length 
 Captain Noble came up. 
 
 " Where are these gentlemen ?" 
 
 They both advanced, hats in hand. 
 
 " Put your hats on, men, what are you 
 afraid of — what have you done to make you 
 look so miserable ?" 
 
 One looked, the other bit his nails, screwed 
 
 VOL. II. M
 
 162 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 his foot aliout and round his leg, and then 
 said — " Made ourselves a pair of fools, I 
 suppose." The other jumped to the same 
 conclusion as he repeated the signal — '' Yes, 
 sir, that is the truth." 
 
 " Well, I am glad you are satisfied, for it 
 saves me a deal of trouble ; I intended merelv 
 to take yoii to Sir Richard Keats, he is a fine, 
 warm-hearted creature. But I do not think 
 he would be pleased to see you without your 
 vessels. Take my friendly advice, make all 
 sail and join him, and if you should want my 
 assistance, I will tow you both up." 
 
 " Thank ye, sir, I dare say we may get on 
 now the water is smoother." 
 
 They were never near the Diana afterwards. 
 
 It was reported that an American privateer 
 got into the convoy one night, and narrowly 
 escaped being taken by one of the corvettes, 
 which completely disguised herself, by hanging 
 a large black canvass patch to her third reef, in 
 imitation of the convoy. We chased one ofi* 
 for two days, but lost her at night, probably by
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 163 
 
 her furling all. At the Great Bank we parted 
 company, going on with the convoy, for Halifax, 
 and after asking leave of Captain Noble, caught 
 several cod. He humorously said, " Well, 
 Howard, I will accept one, but do you recol- 
 lect this time six years, how many changes 
 since then !" We soon made Sambro Light, 
 and got our small convoy in, with the 
 Wolverine and Cormorant. 
 
 m2
 
 164 HORATIO H0A7ARD BRENTON. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Halifax was much changed, the American 
 war had caused money to flow more freely, 
 but not, that I could learn, to any good pur- 
 pose. The same bells were ringing, but no 
 one went to church ; and all the joyous inno- 
 cence and freedom of younger days now had 
 ceased. I found the same warm hearts, 
 perhaps warmer ; I was more at home, but I 
 was more cautious ; it was that chilling change 
 from boyhood to manhood. But my enjoy- 
 ments, on the other hand, were more rational, 
 and my friendships firmer. I had then only 
 boyish gratitude to return for the obligations I
 
 HOEATIO HOWAKD BRENTON. 165 
 
 had incurred, I now enjoyed the fiiendship 
 and confidence of the same individuals, was 
 ever the welcome guest, more affectionately- 
 caressed, if such a term could apply, and had 
 my own modes of finding out how I could re- 
 pay some of the attentions. 
 
 It was well known that I was likely to in- 
 herit a fine fortune, but if this had any effect, 
 it was rather repulsive to the fair dames of 
 Nova Scotia. I never fell in with any scheming 
 mamma there, and on several occasions, when 
 I reproached the daughters with coldness, I 
 was answered simply, that we were then wild 
 boys and girls in Paradise, but that my posi- 
 tion made me more inaccessible than others. 
 
 I began this chapter with the full intention 
 of giving my readers some information re- 
 specting their old acquaintances, Anne, Bessie, 
 and Eose, but some personal and family con- 
 siderations prevent me, on re-consideration, 
 from saying more than that they were all three 
 happily married. I will, therefore, conclude 
 the chapter with a short account of the gunnery
 
 166 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 practice whicli took place on the homeward 
 voyage. We had frequent quarters, exercismg 
 with shot at barrels, not on the broadside, but 
 obliquely ahead, obliquely astern, in the act of 
 tacking orwearing, cool musket practice through 
 the ports, previous to every discharge of the gun. 
 Constant reference to a plan on the quarter-deck, 
 where a table was placed and diagrams of what 
 was done — explained to the men — well-timed 
 commendation when the cask was lectured on, 
 placed on its float on the quarter deck. 
 Thus— 
 
 " Now, my lads, had this been an enemy's 
 rudder, as exposed as our own, and we could 
 only have got as near as we did to this 
 unfortunate cask — what a condition she would 
 have been in — here are three under water-line 
 shots — probably three on each side of it, six — 
 four or five above it — say ten out of our 
 thirteen long guns of one broadside, which 
 would have spoiled his steerage. And now let 
 us see what the marines have been about. 
 Count the holes, sergeant."
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 167 
 
 " Twenty-one in all, sir — all dead men, sir," 
 standing like a ramrod, with his hand to 
 his cap. 
 
 "Now, sergeant — we will throw over two 
 dozen bottles scattered, we will carry the ship 
 up to them as enemies, you will instruct your 
 men, at each port, which bird they are to 
 select so that no two shall waste their poAvder." 
 
 Over went two dozen ' marines.^ The ship 
 was cautiously steered and as the captain held 
 up his hand seven were smashed. At three 
 rounds four bottles remained. The men were 
 again summoned. 
 
 " Now, my lads, if the enemy had been along- 
 side and the marines could only see the white 
 of their eyes how many guns would they have 
 loaded ? — how many rammers lost overboard ? 
 Never care for quick firing — follow up the 
 musketry with the long gun, and select par- 
 ticular objects. Three well-directed guns on 
 one will dismount it, or the glance shot will 
 commit dreadful havock — therefore never 
 dream of driving your shot into the enemy's
 
 168 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 muzzle — it does no good, does not pass inside 
 the ship, and is lost. 
 
 " And in boarding, be as sly and cautious as 
 if you were about to surprise a tiger. The 
 very feint at boarding is intended to expose 
 you to their concealed marksmen. And if it 
 be requisite to let them in board, in order to 
 punish them and kick them overboard again, 
 let it be done in order. If you fall back out 
 of order, the punishment intended for their 
 temerity may fall upon you. The two light 
 guns on the quarter-deck, loaded with pistol- 
 balls and commanding each side — the clear 
 passages left for the main-deck marksmen — are 
 intended for the amusement ' of visitors ' — 
 therefore, if boarders do not retreat in pre- 
 scribed order they must share with the enemy. 
 It may be my trick, by very close steerage, 
 to play this game and deprive him of some 
 twenty or thirty men, but I must depend fully 
 on you to pitch them, dead or alive, over- 
 board ! " 
 
 One long-teethed straight-haired fellow, the
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 169 
 
 captain of the forecastle, the leader of the men 
 for fun or fight, took off his hat, held on by 
 one of his forelocks, and said, 
 
 " Bless your heart, sir, if these men, headed 
 by you, an^ supported by such officers as we 
 have, and just knowing where and liow we are 
 to fall when killed, are taken into action, and 
 told your wishes, it will be the cheapest action 
 ever fought. Lock the magazine — give us our 
 ten rounds — and we will maul the enemy, if 
 so be he is not better handled, and up to our 
 moves, in less than twenty minutes." 
 
 *' I believe you, my lads. To your quarters 
 and secure guns — beat retreat " — all followed 
 — one pipe — 'clear decks' — and before noon all 
 was clear again. But tlie men never were 
 harassed at needless quarters — at morning and 
 evening parade they stood to their guns as 
 they had been drilled, privately, by an artillery 
 sergeant, who had the Amelia's portion in 
 hand lately, at Halifax." 
 
 These quarter-days, once a week, were con- 
 verted into a species of amusement — only a
 
 170 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 certain number of rounds fired, and the result of 
 every gun was noted. The ship now on these 
 occasions manoeuvred by the captain, as no one 
 could tell what he was about against a visionary 
 enemy (the Cask) running up under great way. 
 ' Heave all aback, starboard the helm "— 
 " brace sharp after yards " — place forges 
 ahead — "quick weather-head braces man" — 
 " look out — fire — square head-yards — ease jib 
 sheet — weather guns — look out — aft jib sheet 
 
 — square after yards, gent ly — fire — fill 
 
 head-sails — ease j ib-sheet — do wnhelm — stand 
 by port guns — give it her again. — Hard up, 
 master — square all — look out for his jib-boom 
 — can't steer all right — luff to and keep on her 
 weather bow, master, but be cautious, don't let 
 her get off the wind, and show her broadside 
 bows. — Now we have her — she's done — wear 
 past her bows, and tickle her stern again." 
 How many rounds, Stuart ? — Five, sir — 
 " Secure — pickup target" — and no mistake — 
 five rounds had left not a stave but what were 
 picked up floating — aud the raft cut to pieces ;
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 171 
 
 and where would tlie enemy be with sixty-five 
 24 -pound shot holes under his counter, inde- 
 pendent of any upper-deck 32's and long nines?" 
 
 Captain Noble said — " Well, I would take 
 a good hcking, to try the experiment of how 
 she would like this repeated, if she did not 
 make her bow and try her heels." 
 
 But 'it was not on the cards that we should 
 find an antagonist, so we ran off New Lon- 
 don — fell in with Sir H. Hotham, the man 
 I so much longed to become acquainted with 
 — made his friendship, and off we started 
 for England. The war was over, and all our 
 splendid manoeuvring damped. Will I be 
 believed? for I have reason to know. The 
 Government of that day did not more than 
 coldly approve of the discipline of that frigate, 
 — the Serpent — nor any of the crack ships of 
 that station. Captain Noble then proposed to 
 establish his gunnery ship. The Government 
 replied—'' Sir IT. D., Sir T. H., and Sir. G. C, 
 have their plans ; when they have been tried, 
 we will entertain yours ! "
 
 172 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 OHAPTEK XII. 
 
 As I am not attempting to write a detailed 
 account of my life at sea, I will simply state 
 that almost immediately after we arrived at 
 Portsmouth, we were oJBf again, no one knew 
 where. 
 
 Fifty leagues S. W. of Scilly, the orders 
 were opened ; we shaped our course for the 
 Mediterranean, and reached Gibraltar in seven 
 days. There we received fresh orders " to look 
 into Toulon, examine state of enemy, and re- 
 join at an appointed rendezvous." 
 
 Here was war again with our old foe, 
 and apparently all to do over again. I think
 
 J 
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 173 
 
 it was off Civita Yecchia, that we fell in with 
 the squadron, and moved on for Naples. Five 
 sail of the line, and the customary proportion 
 of frigates- and brigs. Here we found a line- 
 of-battle ship, and frigate, with the flag-of- 
 truce flying on board Tremendous and Alcmene, 
 also a Neapolitan ship-of-the-line, their prize, 
 we understood. But the admiral, Sir Edward 
 Pellew, annulled truce, the ships of the line 
 took up their stations, and a fresh game was 
 played, in which, however, none of us shared 
 prize-money. The Tremendous and Aclmene, 
 I believe, got the loaves and fishes. 
 
 This game ended, the squadron were va- 
 riously scatterred, but had not much to do, 
 except Malta and Berwick, and a very povv^er- 
 ful flotilla, which continued investing Gaeta, 
 until they, with seven or eight thousand Aus- 
 trians, spoiled it as a place of antiquity, for 
 ever. Nor did they finish it, until the news 
 of the battle of Waterloo left no pretence for 
 further resistance. 
 
 Murat, too, had been rather summarily
 
 174 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 tried, " or shot and tried afterwards," as Jack 
 had it, and there was, therefore, no further 
 ground for maintaining it against the king of 
 Naples. 
 
 After visiting nearly every port in the 
 Mediterranean, having a finger in every pie, 
 and occasionally enjoying ourselves in this 
 beautiful climate, we eventually assembled at 
 Marseilles. There I made the acquaintance of 
 Toup Nicholas, the pilot who so gallantly 
 fought the Legere, and made her take to her 
 heels, to take refuge in a French port. For 
 this he was promoted, and his master made a 
 lieutenant, but why it stopped there, no one 
 has divulged. 
 
 Our stay here was perhaps one of the plea- 
 santest, for its duration, that I can call to 
 mind. With the captains of the squadron, 
 Captain Noble soon made me acquainted, and 
 in proportion as he was esteemed by the ad- 
 miral and others, I felt the effects of the sun- 
 shine. Some very excellent men were col- 
 lected in that squadron, and if fighting had
 
 i^ 
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 175 
 
 been the game, I suspect no equal force could 
 have turned us, and two to one, would not 
 have been joyfully accepted. 
 
 But it was not our fortune. We had nibbles, 
 but never a chance for a bite, and my idea, 
 that I was to carve a name for myself before I 
 dreamed of marrying, seemed now more remote 
 than ever. I had almost resolved not to ac- 
 cept my commission until I had earned it, but 
 alas ! greediness whispered, " take all you can 
 get, never consent to become a beggar." 
 
 One day the captain came on board sud- 
 denly. 
 
 " Up anchor." 
 
 " Most of the officers on shore, at some en- 
 tertainment, sir." 
 
 " How unfortunate, I cannot bear that blue 
 peter. Well, Stuart, get underweigh we will 
 give the blades a fright." 
 
 In a few minutes we stood well out in sight 
 of the town, and we loitered, admiral signalled, 
 " Any accident?" 
 
 We replied, " Officers missing."
 
 176 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 This had tlie desired effect, the Boyne 
 blazed away, and off came our officers in one 
 of the boats of the squdron, saving us the 
 trouble, the captain retiring to let Stuart give 
 them their chocolate, which was pretty well 
 churned with the milk of human kindness. 
 
 At Gibraltar, we had leave to be petted by 
 the good commissioner and his amiable lady ; 
 met the Aigle, I think, and Elizabeth-, and 
 forward we went for 'England home and 
 beauty.' The two former had charms, but as for 
 the latter — why my heart was whole. I knew 
 not how this could be, nor did I care to inquire. 
 
 " I think," said I, to myself, '' I shall 
 instruct Ellen to seek for me the counterpart 
 of herself. One that knows she is a woman, 
 and knows now where my quickness of per- 
 ception fails to render her heart to me alone 
 so legible, that like the sister prompting the 
 younger brother in secret whispers, I may 
 enact my part properly, and repay her in love. 
 One who can in the purity of the marriage 
 vow be mine alone, can implicitly beHeve that
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 177 
 
 I could do no wrong, and could spurn from 
 her even her kindred, if they ventured to 
 meddle with our happiness ; and could feel 
 this heroi/3 love free from jealousy — that sin 
 —that degrading blot which severs more 
 affections than any other detested vipers, and 
 which once entwined never can be unwound 
 — which lays open the eyes, as it did that of 
 Cain, first parent to a worldly woe ! — distorts 
 acts of charity — of friendship — of confidence 
 — lays the stepping-stone to separation, and 
 hurries the infatuated victim into sins of the 
 first magnitude ! 
 
 No ! none of this, but the enduring love and 
 confidence which render the return natural, 
 irresistible, overwhelming bliss ! Without 
 these, rather should my heart be barren than 
 cursed with the smooth-tongued oily serpent, 
 who would entwine itself around my heart and 
 suck its secrets, merely to paint you a demon 
 blacker than her beauty would lead you to 
 
 suspect. 
 
 ***** 
 
 VOL. II. N
 
 178 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 Onward we flew ; and as we boarded each 
 successive outward bound, no longer requiring 
 convoy, the stirring events of the last war 
 gradually became unfolded, and prepared us 
 for the latest in England. 
 
 On reaching Spithead, we were still de- 
 tained — no hurry to pay off; and, much to 
 the gratification of us all, we learned of the 
 promotion of Fitzjames. 
 
 Captain Lofty was in town, but would be 
 down the moment our arrival was notified. 
 The happy family were unfortunately at the 
 Eectory. But a letter informed me that the 
 legal man would call on me, at Portsmouth, 
 or wherever I might be, for my signature to 
 certain papers — that Captain Lofty had se- 
 cured a house in London — and that, if I 
 visited town, I would find my rooms ready, 
 and the servants in possession — Bruton-street, 
 Grosvenor-square. Captain Lofty had rooms 
 in the same street, for Captain Noble and 
 himself. Not a word about my uncle. 
 
 We paid off at Portsmouth, the greater
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 179 
 
 part of the men having a rendezvous in Ports- 
 mouth, and another at Plymouth, by which 
 they might find us when their money was 
 spent. This was at their express request, as 
 they then jocosely observed — '' Some of us 
 will tumble together yet, and we will all enter 
 for one ship, if we can — a guardo — with the 
 chance of volunteering out for active service." 
 
 Our receptions were as per last by the 
 admh'al and commissioner ; and this was our 
 parting for ever ! 
 
 On arrival in London, I found the family 
 settled and very comfortable ; Ellen unac- 
 countably softened — painfully so. I thought 
 her unwell, and was, perhaps, more ofiicious, 
 more inclined to ask reasons than she was 
 apparently willing to answer. Her quiet reply 
 was — " All in good time, my dear Horatio ; I 
 have much to think about — much to perplex ; 
 and too many at one skein of silk generally 
 makes worse confusion. Patience !" 
 
 N 2
 
 180 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The acceptance and ratification of the agree- 
 ment between Noble and Charlotte, were at 
 length duly recognized by the family, and the 
 final ceremonies were to take place as soon as 
 I could fairly understand my position. 
 
 The meeting of lawyers took place one fore- 
 noon, about ten o'clock, and continued for five 
 successive days. Our plans of counties, copies 
 of records, special estates, for which solicitors 
 were ready to tender acknowledgment to me 
 as rightful owner, and held by leases by their 
 clients at different period extending from
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 181 
 
 thii-ty to forty years, assured me of a property 
 of £7000 per annum. Other estates, if so 
 willed by me, were to pass to my sister, secu- 
 ring in such case £2000 per annum, and a 
 comfortable house and manorial rights — or 
 right of shooting over a vast extent. These 
 would^ if assigned by me, deprive me of the 
 right to the Brenton arms, but would not bar 
 my succession to the estates of two uncles, 
 missing in India. 
 
 " And now, sir," said Mr. Deedes, when I 
 had arranged what property was to be settled 
 on Charlotte, " your ci devant guardian has 
 afforded me such an insight into your cha- 
 racter that when she prophetically foretold to 
 me the events of this day, I presumed to draw 
 out the marriage settlements ; and, therefore, 
 if you please, the day may be fixed for the 
 fourteenth day after her residence in this 
 locality." 
 
 " Well, my dear sir, this accords perfectly 
 with my ideas, and if you are not too happy 
 at home, will you add to our happiness more.
 
 182 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 by making yourself the grand organ for our 
 evening's amusement. No promises — go home 
 and ask your wife, and if she frowns, bring her 
 too. Obey the last order is our rule." 
 
 He bowed very low. 
 
 " / obey." 
 
 Now I knew not whether he was married, 
 and as we quitted the room Ellen pressed my 
 arm, and said— 
 
 " My dear Horatio, how could you be so 
 cruel ! His wife is a termagant, a very hand- 
 some, commanding woman, but despises the 
 calling of her husband. 
 
 '•' Now you have a game to play. You must 
 exert yourself, as man never yet surpassed 
 you. Pay great attention to the wife, and 
 do, dear Horatio, if you have the soul which I 
 believe would burst its bounds in a just cause, 
 make her feel that it arises from the great 
 respect we have for the profession of the hus- 
 band. You may, on such an occasion, travel 
 into the regions of metaphor, whilst keeping 
 within those of truth.*'
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 183 
 
 " Well, but," said I, " this is a ticklish 
 game ! Suppose I should make a mistake — 
 the lawyer fancy I was in earnest — the lady 
 take a liking to me, and thus out of good in- 
 tentions, produce one of those effects which 
 even astonish on the stage !" 
 
 " In a. good cause, Horatio, with an honest 
 heart and honest intentions, you may safely 
 leave events to fate." 
 
 " Well, I should be sorry to make matters 
 worse, but I will ' Try.^ 
 
 " And now for Charlotte, how 1 long to see 
 that dear creature happy, and to call Noble 
 brother ! father would be more appropriate, if 
 he were not such a boy !" 
 
 Ellen observed — 
 
 " Twelve months hence, mark me, Horatio ! 
 he will be very much changed — only fit to 
 wind silk." 
 
 " Then I expect to be tried by a court- 
 martial for desertion ! But come along, 
 Ellen, let us seek them." 
 
 " Here they both come, looking very seri- 
 ous — assume the same tone."
 
 184 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 " Anytliing the matter, Charlotte, dear?" 
 
 " No, Horatio ; but but Do, Cap- 
 tain Noble, help me ?" 
 
 " When I have the power, Charlotte, I 
 will." 
 
 " That is just what I mean ; but you will 
 not speak out." 
 
 '' Well," 1 said, " perhaps Noble, as he has 
 not the power, will let me have you to my- 
 self, or to ourselves, Ellen and myself, for a 
 few minutes." 
 
 Upon this — touching his forehead — he 
 said — 
 
 " Captain Noble will walk the quarter-deck 
 until he is summoned." 
 
 And he continued pacing the corridor. 
 
 "Well, Charlotte, we have just left the 
 musty parchments, and I have not yet lost 
 the unpleasant fumes of my old grandfather. 
 I think he must have smoked ' Virginny ' pretty 
 considerably." 
 
 " Or his law-clerks," Ellen interposed, bow- 
 ing rather solemnly.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 185 
 
 "Well, Charlotte, we must now approach 
 the business part of the transaction. You and 
 Noble are to be married, and in a great hurry, 
 as I take it to be so. But I have some feel- 
 ings also. I am to be left alone in the world. 
 Now, I have been thinking very seriously of this. 
 Do not sit there, like a culprit ; come and let 
 me feel you are still the warm-hearted sister. 
 (This was effectually executed !) Now you and 
 Noble, of course, have a competency ; and I 
 should like to- know what I am to add to this 
 competency, to make you comfortable, and 
 bring your children up as become my rela- 
 tionship." 
 
 '' Well, Horatio, and Ellen, when Captain 
 Noble formally proposed to me, I told him I 
 might be portionless, or the turn of fortune 
 might afford us house expenses — no more." 
 
 " ' Well, Charlotte,' he said, ' I have my 
 captain's pay, and a trifle prize-money, unsul- 
 lied reputation, and, perhaps, this right arm 
 may carve out better fortunes hereafter. I 
 have a father — his fortunes are blasted. I
 
 186 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 have uncles and aunts — but to. crutches I 
 never trust. If you think we could buffet 
 the world in spite of all difficulties, I do not 
 know of any faults, just now, that render me 
 unworthy.' 
 
 " ' Oh, I am yours, if you will not think I 
 have been too forward. Better go through 
 the world with you in mediocrity ; for you, 
 dearest Ellen, had assured me I should not 
 feel the want of means, than be the wife of the 
 proudest noble. Instead of kissing me, as I 
 thought he might have done, he started back, 
 and said — 
 
 '"Well ! it is dangerous to be too near you. 
 See Ellen, and let me know my fate.' 
 
 "Well, EUen," I said, "shall I call the 
 prisoner in ?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 He entered, very stately, very high- 
 minded and independent, and commenced — 
 " Possibly I may be allowed to open this de- 
 bate ; I come here to offer myself, singly and 
 solely a post-captain, unsullied and untarnished,
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 187 
 
 as tte husband of your excellent sister. I hold 
 out no false colours, I have nothing but my 
 pay, and if I thought your sister had more 
 than putting that and that together, I should 
 feel humihated by seeking an alliance far above 
 my deserts." He bowed, and sat down. 
 
 " Captain Noble, my esteemed friend, and, 
 I hope, brother, when it was my good fortune 
 to know you, I thought you a troublesome 
 customer. You improved upon acquaintance, 
 and you made me feel your value. I in- 
 creased in years, you unaccountably got 
 younger. Instead of being old Noble, you 
 are now boy Noble, and a noble fellow that 
 sister of mine foolishly thinks you to be. I 
 know you, and well ; I have watched you 
 closely, and the only question in my mind, is, 
 whether we are not honoured in the alliance ; 
 for George the third told a peer, the father 
 
 of lady E. H. ,who opposed his daughter's 
 
 marriage, ' That a -post-captain was a match 
 for any peer's daughter,' " and insisted on that 
 marriage, which proved happy.
 
 188 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Deedes came to dinner in the 
 evening, and I rushed forward on their arrival, 
 with all due decorum, to receive the very- 
 handsome Mrs. Deedes, and both were in high 
 feather. As for poor little Deedes, he was in 
 the tenth heaven ! Well, of course I took 
 Mrs. Deedes down to dinner, and she was 
 placed on my right, Ellen on my left, my 
 mother, for the first time, taking the head of 
 my table. 
 
 I lost no time in commencing my task. 
 
 " Keally, Mrs. Deedes, this is very kind of 
 you ! but your good husband must have many 
 opportunities of touching the hearts of those to 
 whom he is a kind of second parent, and their 
 grateful feelings must bring you frequently to 
 a knowledge of the reality of his true value, 
 and you must frequently be invited to grace 
 his triumphs?" 
 
 " No, indeed, Mr. Howard, it is seldom that 
 we appear in company together." 
 
 '' Then his business must be very extensive, 
 and he, perhaps, labouring night and day for 
 your future comfort and luxury ; he wastes
 
 J 
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 189 
 
 the midnight oil in devotion to business, not 
 unmindful of the treasure which anxiously 
 awaits his return." 
 
 " Indeed, sir ! How can you know any- 
 thing about it ?" 
 
 " I know nothing — but having the pleasure 
 of the company of Mr. D cedes — judging from 
 what I can only contemplate as a beautiful 
 reality. Looking to the joy which pervaded 
 his countenance when he accepted my invita-^ 
 tion, and was desired, ' without fail, to bring 
 his wife,' I can only judge of his feelings by 
 what I should estimate his idea of being proud 
 of his wife would naturally lead any one to sus- 
 pect. On rejoining the ladies, I re-commenced, 
 
 " Oh, my dear Mr. Deedes ! I do feel so 
 happy to see you now in my own house — 
 mine by your honourable and powerful exer- 
 tions ; and I sincerely trust that now you 
 have broken ground, been formal guests, you 
 may steal time to throw overboard some little 
 business for fair recreation of mind as well as 
 body."
 
 190 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 " Well, sir, I will endeavour. But, sir, to 
 be candid — if we do not work for our ease 
 now, my wife may feel the want of it here- 
 after." (Her eyes met mine.) 
 
 " Oh, but, my good lady, that is easily 
 managed, when man and wife understand each 
 other well. He places her in the society 
 where he should move, and her interests soon 
 become his — and who can resist when both 
 thus act together ? " 
 
 The lady became very thoughtful ; Ellen 
 closed and followed up the action in her own 
 feminine style ; and both withdrew to the 
 further corner of the room. 
 
 Mr. Deedes exclaimed — 
 
 " What have you been saying to my wife ? 
 I never saw her so completely dumbfounded ; 
 she is generally the loudest in company, and 
 unbearable. You have made a woman of her. 
 I think I must draw up a legal transfer" 
 (laughing). 
 
 " No, no, my good fellow ! Promise to 
 breakfast with me to-morrow, and let me be 
 your lawyer and physician."
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 191 
 
 " Wheugh !" — drawing a long breath — " I 
 must ask leave !" 
 
 " No ! you must break your bonds. Pro- 
 mise ! 
 
 "I do, ^ost what it may ! I shall only say 
 ' business.' " 
 
 Between Ellen, Charlotte, and Fanny, aided 
 by the elders, poor Mrs. Deedes was bewil- 
 dered. Frequently I detected her glance 
 watching her husband and myself, and, at a 
 signal from Ellen, we both joined. 
 
 Ellen then observed — 
 
 " "Well, Mrs. Deedes, I hope you wiU not 
 shut up your good Deedes in his tin-box. He 
 is an old friend of mine, and I intend to turn 
 over a new leaf. When he comes to visit me, 
 he must bring you, or you must consent to 
 his remaining during my pleasure." 
 
 " And mine !" exclaimed every one else in 
 the room. 
 
 Tea being served, we retired to the back 
 drawing-room ; and then, the documents re- 
 lating to Charlotte and Noble having been
 
 192 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 duly read in full court the period was fixed at 
 eight days hence. 
 
 Charlotte declined a carriage or any unneces- 
 sary superfluous trappings, until they had visited 
 the^new place, and ascertained their wants. 
 
 Champion Cottage was allotted to them for 
 six months, which I now found to be my 
 property, although laid out entirely at 
 Ellen's expense. Her fortune, although great, 
 no one could arrive at — all was still in mys- 
 tery. The mysterious packet, on being opened, 
 contained nothing worth record ; merely re- 
 ferring to the estates — now recovered — then 
 in Chancery, and the enactments requiring 
 Ellen's approbation to my succession, if any 
 property accrued. 
 
 Ellen condescended to hold of me, on con- 
 dition of keeping up the establishment in its 
 former state, Champion Villa, and being 
 treated there as the presiding regent, so long 
 as she might remain single. 
 
 The morrow came ; Deedes appeared at 
 breakfast, and we were proceeding to business,
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 193 
 
 when he requested to have a little conversa- 
 tion in private. He then informed me that 
 he perceived some little interference in his 
 family aflfairs. He paused. At length, he got 
 headway again, and said — 
 
 "Well, some men would be bumptious; but 
 I have turned it well over in my mind, and 
 set it down as one of the manoeuvres of that 
 wonderful woman, Ellen. She must have put 
 you into full possession of the misery of my 
 life ; and if the result of last night is to be 
 the prelude to a favourable change, I shall 
 have to bless her for it." 
 
 " Well, Mr. Deedes — few words, and to the 
 point. — I think you are a sensible man ; your 
 wife wants more of your society. We will 
 prepare the way for associating her with your 
 interests, and when you see your course clear- 
 ly, mind your steerage ; the recovery of the 
 heart of your wife is worth ten times its first 
 capture." 
 
 " You throw a good broadside, my young 
 friend," and he grasped my hand, fervently. 
 
 VOL. II.
 
 194 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 The curate and his brother had returned to 
 Ashdown Yale. I could not make out whether 
 both or either of them had proposed to Fanny, 
 and been rejected ; but, at any rate, they were 
 very lucky in not having Fanny for a companion 
 through this thorny world. She never would 
 stoop to be the wife of any man of less intellect 
 than her own, and she was in no way calculated 
 for the wife of a clergyman, or half-pay com- 
 mander, with no further chance of active life. 
 
 In the afternoon, poor Louisa came to me, 
 to know the news, and sat a long time in my 
 study, pondering very seriously how Charlotte 
 would manage for an attendant, for, said she, 
 " I cannot find any one I would trust. Pray, 
 Mr. Hoi'utio, do ask for me to go, it will be 
 only for a few weeks, and then some one else 
 can be found. I can find a servant from home 
 to take my place here. Do speak to Miss Ellen." 
 
 I promised to to so. 
 
 ''And now, sir, surely you intend to follow 
 the good example." 
 
 "No, Louisa, J have many dreary years 
 yet to wait."
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 195 
 
 ,^'' 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 My reader's will kindly imagine Charlotte and 
 Noble happily married, and sufficient time to 
 have elapsed to enable them to become com- 
 fortably settled in their new home. 
 
 tP ^ TJl ^ 
 
 One day Ellen made me all misery. 
 
 '' Oh, Horatio, here is another of those pro- 
 voking foolscap letters, it bodes evil, I detest 
 its very cover." 
 
 " Well, we will soon see." 
 
 It was a mandate to join the Granicus im- 
 mediately, and to repair to the commissioner'.^ 
 office, at Plymouth, for my appointment. 
 
 o 2 
 
 ■ s
 
 196 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 " How tedious, Horatio, but we must sub- 
 mit. I know your laws well enough, but you 
 have time yet to see your friend at the Admi- 
 ralty, and ascertain your latest moment." 
 
 " Good ! '' and off I went. 
 
 At the Admiralty all was confusion. I sent 
 my card up, and although there were fifty 
 waiting, as I was ''in commission," I was 
 ushered up without delay. 
 
 '' Sit down, Howard ; you have heard of 
 this Algerine bubble, it may not turn out 
 anything, but I thought you ought to go, and 
 Lord St. Vincent thinks you have no business 
 on shore until you are posted. You are at 
 present supernumerary in Gr aniens, but it de- 
 pends very much on Lord Exmouth, whether 
 he may not wish to have you with him. Your 
 captain is my intimate friend. You can hold 
 on in London, if business requires, for I know 
 you are not idle, and by a daily call here, you 
 may be useful." 
 
 As I rejoined the waiting-room, it was 
 crammed, so was the hall and great yard, one
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 197 
 
 would have imagined an invasion, or another 
 war. 
 
 But on visiting the clerks, I met with 
 several friends, old and distinguished officers, 
 who had declined commands, under the im- 
 pression that it would not be worth the ex- 
 pense of fitting, merely for a few weeks, and 
 that no action, with so small a force, could 
 possibly take place. 
 
 I was strongly commended for my zeal ; in- 
 troduced to the senior naval lord, and bore a 
 letter from him to the port admiral and 
 general. 
 
 Ellen and the rector were inclined to visit 
 Devonshire, and I cheerfully accepted their 
 companionship. We started with a beau- 
 tiful summer's day, and reached Bath com- 
 fortably that night, remained until next 
 day at noon, then on to Exeter, where we 
 slept, and took it easily next day, getting 
 strawberries at Ivy Bridge, where we strolled 
 about, awaiting horses, and took up our quar- 
 ters at Goude's Koyal Hotel, at Plymouth 
 Dock, close to the gates.
 
 198 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 Before I found the captain, one of his officers, 
 an old ship-mate, found me. 
 
 " Oh ! you are to join us, how lucky ! Here 
 is the captain." 
 
 I was introduced. 
 
 " Never mind commission or uniform, where 
 do you hang out ?" 
 
 '' Here, sir, at Goude's." 
 
 " All right, I want to see you alone." 
 
 So I took him into our room, and having 
 introduced him there, Ellen carried off the 
 rector, and the captain and I were left to our- 
 selves. 
 
 The captain bit his lip, smiled, and, showing 
 his teeth, said — 
 
 "Not married?" 
 
 " No, sir." 
 
 " Not your sister ?" 
 
 " No, sir 
 
 »j 
 
 " Too young to be your mother. Who is 
 she, sir ?" 
 
 " My guardian, sir." 
 
 " Better say guardian angel, su\ No shot
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 199 
 
 will ever strike you while that ' cherub sits up 
 aloft.' But, business — business, sir. You 
 served with Lofty, and last with Noble ?" 
 
 " Yes, I' had that honour." 
 
 "There you are right — those cards tell 
 trumps. But the crew of the Diana are kick- 
 ing about here, waiting for you. Who are 
 you, to have ships' companies dodging your 
 heels ? But to the point. It puzzles me, 
 they will all want to enter for us, and I have 
 not sufficient vacancies. You might join one 
 of the line-of-battle ships, and take them ; but 
 I want you, and I want some of them. Now, 
 
 my friend E would take some of mine, 
 
 and some of Dianas^ and we might take the 
 best into us." 
 
 I replied — 
 
 " Easily managed ; if you only arrange, 
 they can go to one ship. I can select your 
 
 part easily. Will you see Captain E ? 
 
 and I will appear ship-shape very soon." 
 
 " Come along ; I can take your arm in 
 plain clothes better, you know, than in uni-
 
 200 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 form. We will get your commission, and meet 
 
 E at the admiral's office. To-morrow 
 
 will be time enough to show in harness. I am 
 afraid some of your fellows will be nabbed.' 
 
 '' Not they, sir ! And here comes one of 
 them !" 
 
 I advanced to meet him. 
 
 " God bless you, Mr. Howard ! "Where did 
 you come from ? Won't there be a pretty turn- 
 up in North Corner-street, to night! Well, 
 sir, we hear that you join the Saucy Granny ^ 
 
 "Well, perhaps, I do, but keep the men 
 together, and I wish the principal leaders to 
 see me to-night, at Goude's. Not more than 
 four ; and, mum ! no noise — you may do me 
 harm." 
 
 "Never fear the old JDiana^s, sir — all right!" 
 — and he scuttled away. 
 
 " Why, Mr. Howard, what a pity they do 
 not ship the other swab, and give you a fri- 
 gate ! On my honour, I would resign in your 
 favour, if it were possible." 
 
 I bowed. We moved on, and met Captain
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 201 
 
 E , who let us understand the admiral 
 
 wanted us. "Yes, that must be Mr. Howard." 
 The captains immediately understood each 
 
 other — arranged affairs — ^Captain E 
 
 saying— ' 
 
 ■ " Well, I have orders to ' enter all I can 
 get ' for the Portsmouth ships ; but this shall 
 be attended to — they shall not separate." 
 
 The admiral, it appears, expected me a day 
 sooner, and was not so well pleased at my 
 plain clothes. But the captain said it was 
 his fault — he thought it better to secure his 
 object. 
 
 "Your fault, yes, always make it out oo 
 fault, just like 00^ Is this Mr. Howard ? " 
 
 " Well, Sir John, it is ; and he will, I think, 
 satisfactorily place the Diana men, if you will 
 allow me to discharge some few of mine, into 
 one of the other line-of-battle ships. Captain 
 E. will then take the rest, without dividing 
 them, which seems to be their humour." 
 
 "Dividing, sir, — don't like it — looks like 
 mutiny, too many men clinging together ; no
 
 202 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 — no — Avon't — wait. Mr. Sconce, can we au- 
 thorize Captain to discharge any of his men 
 
 into another ship, if he fills up with theDianas?" 
 
 " Oh, anything just now, Sir John. Lord 
 Exmouth is doing the same, entering men 
 here in one ship in excess, to take them out 
 when he arrives." 
 
 " Oh, very good, don't lose any time, Mr. 
 Sconce, seamen very slippery, no impressment 
 now." Then addressing me — 
 
 " And so 00 name Horatio Howard Bren- 
 ton ?" 
 
 " Was, Sir John, and is still, in the navy. 
 But I have no further title to Brenton ; my 
 sister and Captain Noble have carried that off 
 with the estates." 
 
 "Noble taken a prize, a galleon ? Capital ! 
 and his wife is your sister ? Then sir, your 
 captain and oo will dine with me to-morrow." 
 
 We bowed, and departed. The captain 
 telling me I was a prisoner, until he saw me 
 next morning. 
 
 That night, two boatswain's mates, two
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 203 
 
 quarter-masters, and my hammock-man saw 
 me in a lower room. I explained to them the 
 impossibility of their all joining us, and that I 
 had made arrangements for some going to the 
 ship of Captain E. 
 
 " Lord, sir, they have been deceiving you, 
 we are but a handful here. One pipe, sir, 
 would bring them all from Portsmouth, but 
 they await your orders, or those of Captain 
 Noble, who has the others hanging on, as he 
 says, until he knows how you are sitivated. I 
 hope, sir, fifteen or twenty may be stowed in 
 the Granny.-' 
 
 " Well, my lads, I suppose you will let me 
 advise you. Captain E. is very much liked, 
 and I like that ship — possibly may have to join 
 her. But let me know the names of all to- 
 morrow at eight, and I will do my best to get 
 you all with me ; the rest where I can find 
 them, if wanted." 
 
 " All right, sir," and off they went, having 
 wherewith to make themselves comfortable. 
 
 As I entered the room, Ellen said —
 
 204 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 " Well ! you truant, how came you to turn 
 us out so abruptly ; I wanted to see more of 
 that good-natured captain, what a happy smile 
 he has." 
 
 The commission had been taken up for me, 
 and at breakfast, next morning, was brought 
 to me by the captain's clerk who was ordered 
 to put himself under my orders, and that T was 
 selected for the duty of entering men for 
 general service. 
 
 I never can forget the delicious hours I 
 passed in selecting my old Dianas. I had a 
 word for every one in that happy small family, 
 and each had a word for me. The confidence 
 of women may gratify some feelings, but the 
 confidence of such a body of men, had in it a 
 charm never to be experienced twice, perhaps, 
 in the life of a man — particularly when that 
 man is a seaman and more fickle generally than 
 woman. 
 
 The Superhs asked to put in a word to help 
 the rendezvous, and, as I knew of no better 
 judges of what was wanted and what they 
 could do, I promised.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 205 
 
 And Fitzalan, the chief boatswain's mate, said, 
 
 " Only a few words, sir, to settle this affair 
 properly. Be kind enough to let the hearties 
 know, at Portsmouth, how the wind blows — 
 and if they do not meet us on the batteries of 
 Algiers they are not the men we knew. To- 
 night, sir^ .we give our parting ball, sir, by 
 your permission. But we go on board to show 
 ourselves at once. Mr. Horn, of the Superb, 
 has seen the forty thieves already, and likes 
 their cut prodigiously. I knew him before, 
 when he was more shakey on those neat blue 
 gaitered legs of his. But I tell no tales." 
 
 So we parted, quietly as we entered, giving 
 the landlord strict injunctions to keep a steady 
 house, and that I should reckon with him if I 
 heard of any misdeeds. 
 
 As we walked up the street with the second- 
 lieutenant (Johnson), he said, 
 
 " Well, we never know when we go too fast 
 or too slow. I would have given eighty more 
 men to secure those forty thieves, as Fitzalan 
 humorously called them. And yet, perhaps,
 
 206 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 Howard, these, after all, are not the picked 
 
 men." 
 
 " No ! just the average." 
 
 '' How unfortunate you never had an enemy 
 to cope with ! " 
 
 " Yes, under Captain Noble — for no action 
 would have been fought. It was calculated to 
 ten rounds per gun and lock the magazine." 
 
 " Well, I have heard that story, and dis- 
 believed it. But you must promise to tell it 
 to Captain Cleverty when I am present, it 
 must be not only amusing but highly in- 
 structive." 
 
 " Well, it could only be done by a man of 
 the peculiar habit, and I would say, original 
 drollness of Captain Noble. He would con- 
 centrate the souls of those men into a broad- 
 side. It was captain, officers, and crew spun 
 up into a rope in which no sand found a resting 
 place. But we shall have some exercising 
 days, and possibly, after a little explanation, 
 you may be infected with the same mania, for 
 Captam Cleverty and yourself are very aptly 
 fitted for playing the same game."
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 207 
 
 He bowed and said, 
 
 " Howard, I am to old for flattery." 
 
 " Aud, Johnson, I despise the flatterer. If 
 we are to* work together, you must never 
 doubt me. I seldom jest, and never with any 
 man's feelings. And if I see a doubt in his 
 eye or demeanour, I silently avoid him." 
 
 Grasping my hand, he said, " Howard, Ave 
 never will quarrel, but should you find me 
 weak, you will wait for an explanation. I have 
 not, like yourself, been confined to such a 
 rigid school of morality — and my only fear is 
 that your high sense of honour may be severely 
 tried by our messmates." 
 
 " Fear not, Johnson. The man who seeks 
 my acquaintance will find only one gate that 
 is guarded ; and if he ever takes a liberty, 
 depend upon it, I must have committed my- 
 self. But, thanks for this caution. We may, 
 ])etween us, reform and humanize any trouble- 
 some customer. I have seen a revolution 
 effected by one determined individual ; and he 
 was esteemed by the good, feared by the bad.
 
 208 nORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 but disliked by none — and yet he was neither 
 senior nor junior." 
 
 We found our party still enjoying them- 
 selves ; and, as the captain and Johnson 
 wished to go on board with me, we left them 
 to manage their own affairs — retaining Mrs. 
 Goude's rooms, who now ushered us into her 
 pet apartments, and appointed select servants 
 to attend solely on our establishment. The 
 ladies were to await us on Mount Wise. 
 The admiral had sent invitations, but, for 
 the present, Ellen did not feel well enough to 
 accept. 
 
 The Granicus lay in Barn Pool, and I was 
 not sorry to find myself fairly on my legs, and 
 by myself in my proper station. 
 
 The Granicus was no beauty, but still a 
 handy vessel ; and my messmates, as far as I 
 could judge, a nice set of men — better, indeed, 
 than I have generally seen huddled together ; 
 but Captain Cleverty would soon part with 
 any troublesome members. He was too straight- 
 forward for any nonsense.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 209 
 
 It was soon understood I was there for 
 ' special service/ and it is astonishing how that 
 small addition with the Diana's increased my 
 comfort, I 'will call it— for many asserted I 
 was only a commander in disguise. 
 
 However, the captain gave me a lift in his 
 gig to Mount Wise, and accompanied me to 
 call on the general, where I found the ladies 
 awaiting me, and made the acquaintance of 
 the very fascinating members of his family — 
 increased, then, or at a later date, by one of 
 my Halifax pet. 
 
 In the evening, I dressed, joined the cap- 
 tain, and made my first appearance at the 
 admiral's. I now found, in his family, that he 
 was another being, and the ladies were of a 
 mould and manner very superior to the gene- 
 rality. One very beautiful girl Avas there ; 
 and, if my heart was in danger, then, perhaps, 
 it might have quivered, had the cruel indi- 
 vidual sped the fatal shaft. But I suppose 
 she had some other object in her eye, for it 
 played but llittingly on me. She was the 
 
 VOL. II. P
 
 210 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 niece, I think, of Lady D , the daughter 
 
 of a colonel, whose name was familiar. Her 
 mamma kept a bright eye upon us both. The 
 captains of the squadron or fleet, and their 
 ladies Avere present, and 1 enjoyed myself as 
 much as lieutenants do at admiral's parties. 
 
 Latterly, the chief himself ranged up, and 
 entered very familiarly into conversation, 
 acquainting me that Lofty and Noble were 
 his chicks, or had served with him ; adding, 
 " Nothing like a name, sir. Two such god- 
 fathers, backed, as I learn, by Lord St. Vin- 
 cent, will push any fellow forward. But, 
 without paying you more than your due, no 
 fools ever, got to windward of those men " 
 Plaving poured in this broadside, he bore up, 
 and was soon lost in some cozy nook ; for he 
 was very fond of the good things of this life, 
 aad they induce a sleepy sensation. 
 
 OflScial routine engaged me during the fol- 
 lowing day, and I witnessed rather a ludicrous 
 scene — but it brought volunteers of the former 
 breed. It was a huge white flag, with ' Su-
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 211 
 
 lieT'h for Algiers,' accompanied by a band, and 
 I think on a waggon, a number of smock- 
 frocks, Avith hats adorned with the ship's name, 
 with gold 'letters on blue ribbons, denoting 
 '■ the take ' to have been rather successful. 
 
 The admiral had rather an eccentric neigh- 
 bour — a baronet, formerly of the Jewish per 
 suasion, and who gave me a curious invitation 
 to shoot, should I ever return to that neigh- 
 bourhood in the sporting season. It ran 
 nearly thus : — 
 
 '•Ah! — you like shooting — good shot?" 
 
 " Had very little practice, but a sort of 
 sneaking regard for gunpowder," 
 
 This set the rector laughing immoderately. 
 However, the baronet continued — 
 
 " Well, you can shoot." 
 
 "Yes, if I see anything to fire at." 
 
 " But you will promise to shoot a rabbit — 
 not — a hare?" 
 
 " Truly, my dear sir, I should fire at a 
 sheep, if it rushed up as suddenly as a hare or 
 rabbit. I am no professed sportsman ; 1 
 
 ? 2
 
 212 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 could not wait to determine the species or 
 gender ; I should fire." 
 
 '' Indeed ! Surely, you would not shoot a 
 hen pheasant ? " 
 
 " A hen pheasant ! — why not ? How should 
 I know the difference ?" 
 
 And now all hands joined in the laugh 
 against me — the baronet exclaiming, " You, a 
 sportsman ! — I would not mind your firing at 
 my best hat ! " 
 
 "I promised, my dear sir, that I was no 
 sportsman. But let me fire at your best hat 
 at 800 yards with a main-deck gun, I think 
 you would not find much of the animal fur 
 remaining : that is the only practice I have 
 had." 
 
 " Wheugh ! " whistled Captain Cleverty. — 
 "You are one of the Diana's — won't risk 
 that."
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 213 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Lord Exmouth collected his scattered forces 
 and made his dispositions. 
 
 I was at-home in every ship. The followers 
 of Lord Exmouth, of many North American 
 heroes, and of the Channel fleet, all were congre- 
 gated here in this great fleet, for great it was, 
 taking its thorough composition, from the 
 chief to the seaman. No such well-organized 
 force passed the Strait of Gibraltar, for, al- 
 though, I admit, they were green indeed when 
 they quitted Plymouth Sound, and it was the 
 month of July, 1827, still, they ripened before 
 they passed Cape St. Vincent, and some ships
 
 214 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 were smart enough to gratify even Lord Ex- 
 mouth, and his noble captain, Sir J. B. ; 
 some, indeed, were prohibited from expend- 
 ing more shot, being considered effective 
 in gunnery ; and, aloft in the various evolu- 
 tions, the new crews even beat the old, well- 
 trained frigates. On the 9th of August we 
 anchored. 
 
 1 had my eye on the Dutch squadron, at 
 Gibraltar, and there found the Dutch admiral, 
 Van de Capellan, with five frigates, with whicli 
 he volunteered to accompany Lord Exmouth, 
 The gun-boats were selected from the Mole, 
 where they had remained idle for years, and 
 were easily equipped. I was not sorry to avoid 
 such a command, particularly as I learned that 
 vermin abounded. One was allotted to each 
 ship-of-the-line — also one explosion vessel. A 
 brig tender was also attached to each ship-of- 
 the-line, to aid in towing in and out of action. 
 
 Each ship embarked as much ammunition as 
 it was possible to stow, and now things ap- 
 peared to assume more the shape of earnest.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON, 215 
 
 Some of the frigates brought supplies of sheep, 
 fruit, &c., from Tangier, bribes, I suppose, to 
 give their dear allies such a dressing as they 
 heartily wished, and the comforts for the sick, 
 thanks to the foresight of our noble com- 
 mander-in-chief, were adequate to his contem- 
 plated movement. 
 
 I have reason to know that Lord Exmouth's 
 ideas on the subject of the mode of engage- 
 ment, v/ere those of Nelson, &c, but he did not 
 omit to pay a just tribute to Captain Noble. 
 Plans of Algiers were supplied to each captain, 
 and great pains taken by his lordship, to en- 
 deavour to make them fully comprehend his 
 meaning, I use these words advisedly, they 
 were impressed on my recollection at a later 
 date, by his lordship himself. From his de- 
 termination he never wavered, so asserted Sir 
 J. B., his flag-captain. 
 
 We sailed from Gibraltar, and as there are 
 three versions of that action, in one version ot 
 which one captain was much interested, all I will 
 say upon the subject, is, that Lord Exmouth,
 
 216 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 when asked his opinion in England, simply 
 bowed, and said — 
 
 " I highly approve of the dignified silence 
 of Captain E., his name requires not news- 
 paper applause, he was where he was ordered, 
 no volunteer changed my orders, a compliment 
 may be mistaken." This renders the contro- 
 versy nothing more than a controversy for a 
 superiority, and yet I believe the individual 
 whose name was so freely used, cared little 
 about it, and wanted not proofs of his valour, 
 beyond simply '^ Algiers " inscribed on his 
 already well-established " scutcheon." 
 
 But here we are on our journey. I had not 
 heard of the names of the Dutch frigates, nor, 
 indeed, felt much interest, until in my afternoon 
 watch one day, I happened to be looking out 
 on them to windward, fancying some accident, 
 when I noticed that the two leading frigates 
 with their top-sails on their caps, were laughing 
 at the fleet. 
 
 Fitzalan, at the main-tack, was watching me 
 like a hawk, and I saw, quite bursting with some- 
 thing, of which he wished to relieve himself.
 
 HOKATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 217 
 
 I beckoned him — "Come, what is it, Fitz- 
 alan ? " 
 
 " What is it ? can't you see, sir ?" 
 
 " Yes, i see, those two frigates are beating 
 us alL" 
 
 " Lord bless you, sir, Can't you see they are 
 the saucy Melampus and Diana V 
 
 What the eiFect on my feelings was, or how 
 to explain it, I am unable to explain. It did 
 then occur to me, that there were tAvo of those 
 names in the pendant list. 
 
 " But how do you know they are our old 
 friends?" 
 
 " Why, sir, the Dutch sent an old rickety 
 ' liner' into Plymouth, she was too rotten to 
 repair, so they sold her, and bought those 
 beauties. Does it not make your heart sore, 
 to see any other colour on them, sir ?" 
 
 " Well, perhaps it does, Fitzalan ; but we 
 may sometimes recognize a favourite horse in 
 a stage coach, or a hackney coach, or a dock 
 jarvie." 
 
 " All right, sir, you have made me easy ;
 
 218 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 they were not converted until they were no 
 further use to us, and if we want them again, 
 I 'spose we shall hire them, or take them with- 
 out leave." 
 
 " Fitzalan, be very cautious how you make 
 such remarks just now. They are our allies ; 
 and, coming with us just to learn how to 
 fight, you should patronize them — lend a help- 
 ing hand." 
 
 *' Well, sir, so we will ; and keep a sharp 
 look, too, on the old craft — she shan't lose 
 her character. I hope, sir, she will find a 
 billet near us." 
 
 Just then the captain came up to blow 
 before dinner, as the steward made the cabin 
 unbearable when he began to prepare his table. 
 He commenced — 
 
 "■ Well, Howard, I am afraid we never shall 
 have a chance of trying this exercise of yours; 
 but I shall dine with the admiral to-morrow, 
 and ask to have a game of our own. Recol- 
 lect, only five rounds from fourteen guns, the 
 first available day."
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 219 
 
 " I really hope you will, sir — and that, if I 
 should be allowed any berth in action, you 
 will let me have a little confidential communi- 
 cation with you and Mr. Johnson." 
 
 " That is just what he has requested. We 
 will, if it suits you. Do that to-night, after 
 eight o'clock. The master shall look out for 
 you, as it will be on duty. This will suit me 
 particularly, as it may influence my object 
 with the admiral, to-moirow." 
 
 " I am at your service, sir." 
 
 " But what were you about with Fitzalan ? 
 — if that is a fair question. He looks as if 
 he had swallowed a bag of monkeys. What 
 drollery is he up to ?" 
 
 " Oh, nothing, sir ! He has merely found 
 out that the Diana and Melampus are in the 
 squadron, and beating us all ; and is very 
 anxious we may be near each other, to hold up 
 Diana's head, if she should be hard pressed." 
 
 " Capital ! I will make a point of getting 
 introduced to her captain, and telling him that 
 we have the old hands aboard. And Melampus,
 
 220 HOKATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 too ! Poor Hawker ! — how it would gladden 
 your heart to see the old Melampus — ' All 
 wings — every rope in her taut as a crowbar 
 — beating everything !" 
 
 " One would imagine, sir, that you had seen 
 her in her glory, when she took that Tame- 
 hamehah.^^ 
 
 " No, Howard ; but I have heard so much 
 
 about her doings, that I am glad to see that 
 
 even in strange hands the strange stories are 
 
 realized.'' 
 
 * * * * 
 
 At length the interesting day arrived; 
 Captain Dashwood of the Prometheus had 
 joined, having succeeded in smuggling off the 
 wife, daughter, and infant of the consul by 
 equipping the tAvo former as ' middies.' Poor 
 baby, however, squeaked in the basket and was 
 captured with the surgeon, together with three 
 bond-fide middies, and fourteen men, with two 
 boats. 
 
 Here was an aggressive act ! However, the 
 Dey, not being such a ' Turk' as he was painted,
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 221 
 
 as I afterwards learned, sent off the babe the 
 day following. No historical view can be ob- 
 tained from ' James.' 
 
 On the morning of the twenty-seventh of 
 August, all was life and preparation. The 
 Severn, with flag of truce flying towed in a boat 
 from the admiral, demanding immediate com- 
 pliance with terms. Before noon, the boat 
 with flag of truce, was met by one from the 
 shore ; and Salame asserted, that the captain 
 of the port, to whom he afterwards introduced 
 me in England, gave him to understand, " that 
 they would not resist." 
 
 The admiral, thinking more about his men, 
 signalled ' cooking and meals as usual.' Some 
 who were wise took advantage of this notion, 
 and materially benefited thereby. Some who 
 had nobler souls, disdained anything less pala- 
 table than gunpowder broth. I was weak 
 enough to participate in cold beef, cheese, and 
 explosive porter ! At two p.m. truce annulled, 
 Admiral hoisted 'preparative' — the precon- 
 certed signal. I cannot say that I saw any
 
 222 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 ship hoist the affirmative, as James intimates. 
 ' Ready,' would have been the only reply from 
 a junior or inferior; but it so happened, if my 
 intellect be not dimmed by age, that the '■ jyre- 
 parative ' was repeated by every ship, designa- 
 ting ' ready.' 
 
 Lord Exmouth bore up, followed closely by 
 Su])erh, until she was signalled, 'anchor 
 instantly.' Minden next Superb, Albion, 
 Impregnable. 
 
 Now just to exhibit the absurdity of the 
 assumed historian of a naval battle, at page 
 578, we are informed — 
 
 First. — " The fleet bore up ' in the order 
 prescribed: " 
 
 Second. — He omits to say that they an- 
 chored with a chain cable out of the stern port \ 
 
 At page 579. — " The Impregnable and 
 Albion were to have taken their stations." But 
 leave we the ships to fight their own battles. 
 
 The frigates had no places in action, but 
 were to take up the gaps. And our captain 
 soon found one to suit, running out his warps
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 223 
 
 to the very rocks under the muzzles of the 
 enemy's guns ; the saucy (very saucy, indeed), 
 Granicus took up her position between the 
 Flag and 'Superb^ but with a sort of filial ten- 
 derness to the latter. 
 
 To say how we fought, I leave to the 
 Superb, g,nd we know how beautifully she did 
 her work. How many shot were thrown 
 away, the powder expended must tell ; and 
 there too, as to the relative proportions of 
 powder to shot, the historian could have ob- 
 tained satisfactory information. 
 
 Of the practice of steady, distinct firing, we 
 must ask the poor unfortunate turbans, who 
 so often deserted their ladles, falling headlong 
 between the muzzles of their long guns, for 
 they loaded, apparently, by loose powder, or 
 by cartridge, placed in the chamber of the gun 
 by ladle. Indeed, I never saw the shot put 
 in ! By tliis, our distance (of which we were 
 afterwards informed was fifty-six yards), may 
 easily be imagined. We suffered ; but from 
 some kind friend outside, we were pricked up
 
 224 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 in a manner not agreeable to our gallant cap- 
 tain, and he sent him a bit of his mind. 
 
 . The tumble of the batteries — originally four 
 beautifully symmetric tiers — the fall of the 
 lighthouse and its works — soon presented a 
 scene of destruction which scarce reminded 
 one of such works ; and the casemates, which 
 still harassed us, were only distinguishable by 
 the transmitted illumination, produced by the 
 enemy's frigates, arsenal, and magazines, blazing 
 and alternately exploding within the mole. We 
 had little time for admiration or reflection, for 
 our orders to select special mischievous guns, 
 which dealt more deadly destruction towards 
 the conclusion of the action, kept our attention 
 painfully on the alert ; and when at length 
 the orders to haul out came, it was with a 
 painful feeling that we did so, hoping to make 
 terms only at the muzzles of our guns. I 
 know not how it is, but this action seemed to 
 excite me differently to any other ; there was 
 an absence of that vicious enthusiasm between 
 ship and ship, we felt that our cause was
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 225 
 
 better, and still we felt that they were not a 
 match for the wooden walls of old England. 
 
 About two o'clock, I think, we got an- 
 chored. But such a finale ! Our enemy had 
 been earthly, but now a power under which 
 the firmest heart quails visited us. Crippled 
 and exhausted, with light airs we had to tow 
 out. Thunder, forked lightnings, and such a 
 deluge of rain, as I never before or since wit- 
 nessed, poured upon us — sight being almost 
 taken away by the quick, succeeding flashes, 
 which were painfully reflected on the water-de- 
 luged deck, which the scuppers were inade- 
 quate to relieve. Providentially this was 
 unattended by wind, or that fine fleet would, 
 before dawn, have been dismasted ! 
 
 Who has had his ardour chilled — has found 
 all his valour ooze out at his heels, as the 
 torrent, pouring down the back of his neck 
 by the laws of gravitation, and making a 
 canal of his back, entered his shoes ? Who 
 Who has witnessed the fiery mastifi" subdued 
 by a garden engine, and run howling as if he 
 
 VOL. II. Q
 
 226 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 had been beaten ? Let him extend his com- 
 miseration to the poor half-drowned com- 
 batants of the memorable 27th. 
 
 The 28th was beautifully serene. Certain 
 ships prepared to renew action. Admiral sig- 
 nalled ' Admiral does not know whether ;' but 
 this was followed, not long after, by ' Peace is 
 concluded between.' 
 
 And now each was anxious to inquire after 
 friends. Our good — and, as he won his laurels 
 here so magnificently, I call our noble — cap- 
 tain, went to the admiral. Well, I was there, 
 too. I was much at home there, but I tell 
 no tales. Our captain was received as he 
 deserved. The captain of the Diana, who 
 did his work well, and nobly supported the 
 credit of the old craft, took our captain by 
 both hands, and, looking liim full in the face, 
 said — '* Ah ! you are too great for me !" But 
 his language was not so complimentary to 
 others. 
 
 Our next visit was to the Superb. She had 
 taken her hammering most patiently. Every-
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 227 
 
 thing about her was exhibited, in some mode, 
 as a curiosity — the smallest lines cut in fi'ag- 
 meuts — sails in shreds, and sides as if she had 
 suffered from the small pox. But her gallant 
 captain and first were on their beam ends — 
 both wounded by a splinter; also the junior 
 lieutenant. - 
 
 The captain wished to see me, and received 
 me in a manner the most kind and grateful to 
 my feelings. One of my esteemed fi-iends had 
 joined one of the bombs ; but the poor second- 
 lieutenant seemed quite out of his element, in 
 his new position of captain and first -lieutenant. 
 I could compare him — good creature he was, 
 too — only to a hen which, having hatched a 
 brood of ducks, saw theai take the water. 
 Next we visited the Impregnable. Never shall 
 I forget that scene ! With her good captain 
 I was intimate, and I had a very long conver- 
 sation with him, touching matters of deep 
 interest. We then proceeded to the '' 'tween 
 decks" — the chamber of horrors. I never 
 heard then of any shell from the enemy burst- 
 
 Q 2
 
 228 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 ing on board of any of our ships, as James 
 states; but, by the explosion of a hanging 
 magazine, no less than sixty were placed hors de 
 combat. I went the round, and viewed many 
 of the wounded. How many survived I never 
 enquired ; but many were without features, the 
 face being covered with a piece of calico, in 
 which the openings for eyes, nose, and mouth 
 alone represented the features. 
 
 The Albion and Minden succeeded, the 
 captain of the latter, an intimate friend. 
 Leander I think, was the last, there I missed 
 my old friend, the gallant captain of marines, 
 Wilson. He had lost both lower limbs and 
 died during the action. The lieutenant of 
 marines, three middies, one a friend of mine, 
 poor Glennie ! had fallen. 
 
 Enough food for deep contemplation. 
 
 A day was set aside for public thaksgiving, 
 and I went to hear a most eloquent discourse, 
 by an esteemed friend, in one of the line of 
 battle ships. He selected his text, most 
 appropriately, for the 27th day of the month 
 — the 1st verse of the 124th Psalm.
 
 .^ 
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 229 
 
 " If the Lord, Himself, had not been on our 
 side, now may Israel say, if the Lord, Himself, 
 had not been on our side, when men rose up 
 against us.'' 
 
 This he treated very beautifully, gradually 
 introducing the peculiar reference each verse 
 had to our situation, as regarded the threats 
 of the enemy. Of that sermon, many copies 
 were made for personal friendship ; and, I 
 believe, the admiral and many others re- 
 quested the same favour with the same result. 
 
 But in the plenitude of our satisfaction 
 when every one thought that all had been 
 done so well that nothing was needed but to 
 rejoice and be thankful— the poor unfortunate 
 Granicus was visited by an event which, I do 
 believe, disgusted the entire squadron. I 
 would conceal the matter, but that it contains 
 the just punishment of over-weening pride and 
 assumption of character which I leave in the 
 breasts of the officers of the squadron. An 
 unfortunate talebearer communicated to an 
 officer, that two poor middies, in the freedom
 
 230 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 of discussion, had alluded to the small share 
 he took in the action. 
 
 This his magnanimous spirit could not 
 brook. He complained to the admiral, who 
 was as much disgusted with said officer as he 
 was with said talebearer. 
 
 The kind advice of the admiral was not 
 listened to. The only expedient was ' horresco 
 ref evens.' The poor middies had to make 
 their apology, read in the ward-room of each 
 ship in the squadron ; thus promulgating their 
 opinions — for as to apology, no officer would 
 listen to it. The culprits, indeed, received 
 attention ! Did Lord Exmouth intend this ? 
 
 And leaving Prometheus to take care of 
 consul and family, charging my esteemed 
 friend, Sir James Brisbane, with letters to my 
 mother and Ellen, and a promise that he would 
 see them, if in London, we winged our way 
 for Gibraltar.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON 231 
 
 CHAPTER XVL 
 
 I NOW began to be very tired of the ser- 
 vice, and wished for repose — was paid oiF, and 
 reached London. Shortly after my arrival 
 there, I received a friendly detainer in the 
 form of — 
 " My DEAR Mr. Howard, 
 
 " If it is not inconvenient to you, I 
 should like to see you in London before you 
 leave it. 
 
 " Yours faithfully, 
 
 '' EXMOUTH." 
 
 I therefore had an interview with his lord- 
 ship, in which every question relating to my
 
 232 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 naval career was discussed ; and I was 
 honoured by a special introduction to the first 
 and principal naval lords as his particular 
 friend. Two knew me before. 
 
 The question of how I was to be promoted 
 seemed, even then, to puzzle the great men ; 
 but I was informed that " I must hold myself 
 ready for immediate service, and at once write 
 a letter, tendering service." 
 
 This did not quite accord with my views, 
 but what could I do ? I wrote the letter, and 
 soon packed oflf to Ashdown Vale. Noble and 
 Charlotte joined us the evening before, and 
 we had made up our minds for a little enjoy- 
 ment on his Norfolk estate. 
 
 We had made all our arrangements, indeed, 
 for an English tour of inspection, when Ellen, 
 the personification of grief, approached with 
 another of those ominous foolscap letters. 
 
 However, this time it merely appointed me 
 as lieutenant of one of the guard ships at 
 Plymouth, with a private note to join and ask 
 for a month's leave to attend to urgent busi-
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 233 
 
 ness. This was to keep up my time. I 
 reached Plymouth — saw the admiral — joined 
 — took my own letter for leave to London, 
 and thus gained five days. 
 
 We now quitted the rectory, Noble, Char- 
 lotte, Ellen and myself, with Louisa and 
 Noble's servant, and reached Burnham Hall in 
 two days' quiet travelling. As yet Noble had 
 deferred the visit, until I should be present, 
 and we found good Mr. Deedes rubbing his 
 hands in great glee, and Mrs. Deedes in pos- 
 session of the drawing-room, with a comfort- 
 able fire. I took his hand very warmly, and 
 thanked him for this fresh proof of his kind- 
 ness; his eye glistened, and he whispered, 
 " No, my dear sir, you are the author of all 
 this happiness," Mrs. Deedes received me 
 with great warmth, embraced Charlotte, and a 
 happier party never sat down to table. 
 
 Deedes was here by appointment, not ex- 
 pecting to meet me, and his wife had now 
 taken it into her head, that he was not to be 
 sneered at, and was becoming so domestic, that
 
 234 HORATIO HOAVARD BRENTON. 
 
 she could not do without him, and was quite 
 sure "she should not intrude." So here she 
 was. 
 
 After dinner, Noble was "read in," and 
 asked if he intended to assume the name of 
 Brenton, as if certain litigated estates fell in, 
 one of us must hold the name. However, that 
 he disliked, so it was postponed, as I could 
 settle eventually on his issue, an event not long 
 to be delayed. 
 
 Deedes having business of mine on the 
 Brenton estates, I persuaded him to leave his 
 wife with us, to which she was rather averse. 
 
 The news of the arrival of the captain and 
 lady, soon brought the surrounding gentry to 
 pay their visits, and a mighty pleasant circle 
 they appeared to form. Several of the gen- 
 tlemen inquired if he was fond of shooting, and 
 remarked, that the Manor, particularly his 
 own preserves, was completely overrun with 
 game. Indeed, too much so, for a sportsman, 
 it was almost as insipid as shooting fowls in a 
 farm-yard, and as to rabbits, they were insuf-
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 235 
 
 ferably swarming. The water, too, had very- 
 large pike, carp, and tench, and there were 
 several not insignificant trout streams for this 
 part of England. 
 
 No one could comprehend his not being a 
 Brenton ; nor could they credit my putting 
 down the name, nor my position at all. Ellen, 
 unaccountably, was the great unknown ; they 
 knew her not, and yet they were so pointedly 
 polite in their attentions, that I expected 
 hourly to hear her called by some other name. 
 Her features were certainly recognized, and 
 she, cunning puss, knew the history of all the 
 elder branches of the family. Many attempts 
 were apparently made to recal her features, but 
 she met them all with such perfect simplicity 
 self-possession that they entirely failed. After 
 they had gone, she exclaimed, " Well, I am so 
 happy to be relieved, what prying creatures 
 they are. How can it interest them to know 
 me, it could not benefit them, and might frus- 
 trate some of my schemes in coming thus far." 
 
 This expedition, on her part, was, I found,
 
 236 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 to the adjoining county — to the family estate of 
 my grandfather, still a litigated question, and 
 upon which this expatriated uncle had got 
 some unaccountable lien, from being in posses- 
 sion of a family document belonging, of right, 
 to my father. How he became possessed of it 
 no one could tell, and, being abroad, the law 
 could not make him reveal. 
 
 If this property was not transferred into our 
 family, one of the ' over curious visitors ' — if 
 neither of the great uncles appeared, or their 
 wills — was likely to make a stir; hence the 
 wonder " that no one represented the Bren- 
 tons." Ellen comprehended this. 
 
 It now became important that I should not 
 hastily change my name — nor indeed could I, 
 legally, until I reached the age of twenty-five. 
 
 On the second day, at noon, we reached a 
 very pretty pair of lodges, in the olden style 
 of red brick, with mortar and flint nodule, 
 pannelling and massive iron gates between. 
 The lodge-keeper, a nice matronly woman, 
 still possessing traces of beauty, came out, 
 curtsied lowly to Ellen, and opened the arates.
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 237 
 
 Ellen enquii-ed — " Who resides here at pre- 
 sent r 
 
 " No one, madam ; but two strangers have 
 arrived — one is from Mr. Horatio Howard 
 Brenton, madam," curtsying. 
 
 Ellen bowed. '' Drive on," uttered ner- 
 vously, displayed her anxiety — and forward the 
 postboy pushed. All were silent. The grounds 
 were very extensive, or the road had been 
 made as serpentine as possible to convey the 
 impression, of a long drive, as clump after 
 clump of thick underwood was passed — pre- 
 sently a fine sheet of of water showed its 
 glassy expanse, and then the mansion — not 
 large, but sufficient for a private family of 
 good income, and very subtautially built of 
 freestone, presented its double flight of steps, 
 with portico rather — I thought — out of pro- 
 portion. 
 
 As w edrove up, two carriages wee noticed 
 — one was that of Deedes ; the other had four 
 horses, which appeared not to have been 
 spared : — they were still panting hard.
 
 238 HOKATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 Deedes met us at the upper landing in asto- 
 nishment. " Miss Ellen Percy ! " he exclaimed, 
 in a tone which seemed to relieve him from a 
 load of uneasiness. "What on earth could have 
 directed you here ? Have you any letters ?" 
 
 " No," she said, with great composure. 
 " May I ask who is this stranger," who had 
 advanced towards her? 
 
 He observed — " Surely, I heard the name 
 of Ellen Percy pronounced ! Can that lady 
 be found?" 
 
 She curtsied gracefully, and said — " She 
 stands before you, sir, in the cold hall of this 
 mansion, sir. But she will be glad to know 
 your pleasure in any room that has a fire." 
 
 This the servants had prepared ; and,' 
 taking my arm, she was conducted to a chair ; 
 motioning the stranger to be seated, to the 
 astonishment of all, she said — " Now, sir, if 
 you please, the lady who holds these posses- 
 sions in trust requests to know if she can afford 
 you any assistance?" 
 
 " Are you, madam, Miss Ellen Percy, or
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 239 
 
 the lady, in law, known by that appellation? 
 whatever may be your true one ? and do you 
 hold these estates in right of my brother Ho- 
 ratio Howard Brenton ? " 
 
 " 1 do hold these estates, in law, for the per- 
 son of the late Horatio Howard Brenton still 
 in trust for his legal heu', now of age, Horatio 
 Howard Brenton, now before you — (present- 
 ing me,) and you are, I presume, truly a 
 brother of his grandfather ?" 
 
 " How, madam, can I convince you ? " 
 
 " Oh ! that is very easy, if these gentlemen 
 retire." 
 
 We did so ; and, as she informed me, they 
 were mutually known to each other by docu- 
 ments, and by the great-uncle disclosing a 
 family secret, known only to Ellen and those 
 two uncles. 
 
 On being re-called, I was greeted as nephew, 
 ^and assured that I possessed but one great- 
 uncle ; his brother died childless, in India, 
 and left him the property, which Avould, with 
 his, in fitting time, with these estates, fall to
 
 240 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 me. '' Indeed, your grandfather's estates will 
 naturally, by my deed declaring you the heir, 
 devolve on you when you attain, as I learn 
 from this lady, the age of twenty-five ; until 
 then they are hers in law ; nor can any power 
 disturb her. Your mother's brother's case — I 
 will not call him your uncle — I intend to 
 relieve you of ; and if the deeds are not forth- 
 coming, I will attach him as a felon : my 
 emissaries have him already on the continent 
 — he had better not struggle. But, my dear, 
 where is your mother ? I should wish to see her. 
 My uncle seemed very proud of Charlotte ; 
 seated himself by her ; and, pulling out from 
 his breast a locket, said — " How much she 
 resembles her grandmother?" 
 
 Turning to me he said — 
 
 " It is well, young fellow, that you met me 
 first, I should have given all to your sister. But 
 my word is like that of my brother's, never can- 
 celled, even cruel as it was, to your good father.'' 
 
 " Well, sir," I observed, ^' these estates I 
 have already given to Charlotte, and her chil-
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 241 
 
 dren will inherit some, if not all the others ; 
 that depends on chanc/;s." 
 
 He was about to say something in reply, but 
 Ellen's forefinger (termed by us her wand) was 
 up, and he, smiling, said — 
 
 " Why, what a happy old boy you are 
 making me- if " 
 
 Up went the wand again. 
 
 " Well, I will finish it my own way ; I feel 
 quite safe, I shall make you my banker, 
 Horatio, and allow you to dispense all the 
 Brenton honours unless " 
 
 Up went the wand ; and dinner being an- 
 nounced, Everyone rushed to set themselves to 
 rights. Louisa whispering — " Ready, but not 
 on table," glided off to take care of my uncle. 
 
 I had almost dreaded finding an uncle, but 
 this was one of the genuine breed, an affec- 
 tionate grand-uncle, whose very heart was 
 overflowing with the warmest ebullitions of 
 affection, and almost as boyish in his degree as 
 Noble. It would not have surprised me 
 greatly had they commenced leap-frog. I am 
 
 VOL. II. R
 
 242 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 sure he would have gone over more lightly 
 than Noble, who was now assuming something 
 of a portly aspect. 
 
 The next morning was fixed for shooting ; 
 some of the neighbours called, bringing dogs, 
 with which we were not provided, and my 
 beautiful Egg, was, for the first time, used 
 against English game. 
 
 I found, ignorant as I had imagined myself 
 to be, as a professed sportsman, that I killed 
 much in the same proportion as those about 
 me; and before noon, we had bagged more 
 than was convenient to the men to carry. We 
 returned, therefore, to luncheon. Ellen set 
 her eyes very maliciously on one of the vis- 
 itors, and at the same moment said — 
 
 " Will you be kind enough to ask Mr. 
 Oliver Brenion to pass me that crust near 
 him." 
 
 If a gun had gone ofi* under his ear, it could 
 hardly have startled him more. He stam- 
 mered — 
 
 " Where, madam?"
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 243 
 
 " Here," said the old gentleman, handing 
 him the fork on which the crust was. 
 
 His appetite failed ; he suddenly felt indis- 
 posed; went home, and we never saw him again. 
 
 After they had all gone, Ellen observed — 
 
 " That shot, Horatio, was as you would 
 say, well-aimed. I have released you of a very 
 troublesome enemy. The name of Oliver 
 Brenton, crushed all his hopes of succeeding 
 to the Brenton estates." 
 
 My uncle drily observed, "Well, that was 
 taking the bread out of his mouth, did you 
 contemplate that, Miss Ellen, when you asked 
 for it?" 
 
 " I did, sir, but I wanted the bread. It 
 had no connection with my thoughts. I 
 determined, at once, to crush his hopes and 
 deter him from mischief or becoming acquainted 
 with family secrets through his dogs." 
 
 *' You are a general too, I perceive." — Up 
 went the wand. 
 
 In a week Deedes returned with a much 
 pleasanter countenance, and rejoiced his wife 
 
 R 2
 
 244 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 was to have some one to play with, for our 
 afifairs had ahnost made us tame company. He 
 had succeeded completely westerly and he was 
 now about to try easterly, but we persuaded 
 him to stay aweek for his wife's comfort. 
 
 My uncle too observed, " On plea of busi- 
 ness you cannot depart, for I have patiently 
 been awaiting you here." 
 
 " Oh ! sir, only satisfy my conscience that I 
 am detained on business and a feather will 
 keep me." 
 
 My uncle put on one of his incredibly 
 ludicrous smiles and mimicking " conscience ! 
 conscience ! conscience !" with a cough left the 
 room, Deedes, himself, laughing heartily. 
 
 On his return, he brought a small packet 
 sealed and secured in waxed cloth, with sundry 
 turns of red tape, and sitting down beside 
 Ellen — addressed her. 
 
 " As you will not be general will you be 
 amiable enough to act as secretary?" 
 
 " That I will with delight ! " she exclaimed, 
 " in a good cause ! "
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 245 
 
 " Oh ! that I can only suspect to be good 
 until you let us know by the result of the 
 papers herein contained." 
 
 The first was directed " To Captain Noble, 
 late first-lieutenant with Captain Lofty in the 
 Cleopatra r 
 
 "T^t'sme." 
 
 " Stop a bit," said my uncle ; ''all in good 
 time. It is not sealed, and is to be delivered 
 to you after sufficient proof" 
 
 " Here are certain queries. First had 
 you an uncle on your mother's side called 
 Moreton ? " 
 
 " I had." 
 
 "Is Mrs. Moreton, your aunt, living?" 
 
 " She is not." 
 
 " Did she die in this country, childless?" 
 
 '' She did." 
 
 " On proof of these matters simply, the 
 paper addressed to Captain Noble is to be 
 submitted to his legal adviser, who is em- 
 powered, it having been duly signed, in the 
 presence of witnesses, by the said captain, to
 
 246 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 take out letters of administration as the legal 
 heir, by will registered of the said uncle, 
 Henry Moreton." The paper having been 
 handed to captain Noble, was read by him 
 and going to the table with Mr. Deedes, he 
 presented him his true and lawful attorney, 
 signed the document, and delivered it as his act 
 and deed, to which we attached our signatures, 
 when my uncle taking him by the hand, said, 
 " I am afraid you will have to resign the 
 Brenton estates, for your own interests will 
 compel you to take the name of Moreton, but 
 the word ' only ' — is not inserted, perhaps, Mr. 
 Deedes, our prisoner, here, will inform us whe- 
 ther my idea is correct. I think, after he 
 reads this copy of the will, which entitles you 
 to £200,000, that you may call yourself More- 
 ton Noble or Noble Moreton, whichever you 
 prefer. But as regards your issue, they may 
 hold Brenton estates, if they will assume that 
 name in addition. That is the aflfair of the 
 lord of the manor there." 
 
 Mr. Deedes was sure it required no opinion
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 247 
 
 that Captain Noble must take Moreton, before 
 or after, but that was optional. 
 
 In his droll manner he decided instantly. 
 " Bah ! none of your laughing at me. Do you 
 think I would stand any fellow calling me 
 Noble Moreton, Eh! Horatio! No! no! 
 Moreton Noble sounds better. What say you, 
 Charlotte?" 
 
 " Why, do you think I would let you know, 
 now, if I did not think as you do ? But I read 
 Moreton Noble in your eye before my uncle 
 had finished his part of the game, for it is a 
 game, it is only one of my uncle's jokes ; I can 
 see there are no parchments there — no will." 
 
 Deedes made a very low bow. " Madam, 
 these are only copies, to enable me to obtain 
 the deeds, which will complete the transaction. 
 The documents come from India, and are as 
 valid for our object, as a rhinoceros hide. We 
 will very soon produce a whitish sheep's skin, if 
 it is preferred. But if I mistake not, this will 
 be a very clean transaction, and Captain More- 
 ton Noble will merely have to invest his money
 
 248 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 in good securities, paying the customary crown 
 fees for robbing a dead man of his name. This 
 is not a troublesome estate business, it is 
 funded property simply awaiting to be trans- 
 ferred to his new name. 
 
 " Ladies and gentlemen," he concluded, 
 '' let me here proclaim Captain Moreton Noble 
 the heir to the estates of his uncle," and he 
 shook the captain by the hand, who returning 
 his pressure energetically, caused the lawyer 
 to weep, rather, I suspect, from the vice by 
 which he found his fingers compressed. 
 
 Ellen looked at my uncle with an enquiring 
 air, but he said, "No, no more at present, 
 
 unless you ." Up went her wand, and 
 
 peace was proclaimed. 
 
 We all congratulated the heir, but with very 
 changed feelings, for I knew full well he would 
 not now hear of any addition to his family 
 wealth, until I married, and he saw the result. 
 
 How strange this peculiar accumulation of 
 family wealth. It is true, that I never was 
 absolutely penniless, unless I committed my-
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 249 
 
 self. Had Ellen died, who would have 
 watched over my youth — who would have 
 warned me of the fatal effect even of a sham 
 duel ? — avarice, villany, or even carelessness 
 might have made me a dupe — an easy dupe — to 
 my mother's brother : he would have tri- 
 umphed, "and I and my sister, perhaps, have 
 ended our lives in miserable dependence. 
 
 It has been my lot to witness no less than 
 three individuals disinherited for duelling ; 
 they were without principle — one ruined, be- 
 cause he did not fight, because he could never 
 find a second — and that so preyed on his mind, 
 that he rushed to destruction. Two forgers, 
 because they could not keep up their expenses, 
 and yet cut off from all hope, before they could 
 succeed to their estates; and yet, if I am 
 asked do I pity them, it is hard to answer. 
 All I will say, each was unprincipled, each had 
 to thank himself or his early education for 
 deceit, or for failure in veracity. One poor 
 creature I did pity : he fell from timidity ; his 
 first fault was a mere fib. He did at once
 
 250 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 confess to me, and cried bitterly. He pro- 
 mised to reveal all at once, and ask forgiveness. 
 But he met a demon, who dried his tears, 
 took him under his protection, declared him 
 an ill-used boy, and told the covering falsehood 
 for Mm ! That night he returned to me, cried 
 bitterly, and told me all, and that I was 
 threatened with vengeance and destruction. 
 I was^not then with either of my captains ; 
 even had I been, I would scornfully have 
 rejected any notice of the threat relating to 
 myself. I advised him to quit the service ; 
 but, before he could extricate himself from the 
 fangs of that monster, falsehood over falsehood 
 had been fathered on him, which the terrified 
 urchin could not refute, and he left with a blem- 
 ished character ! This case will not be recog- 
 nized : all the parties are dead ! But, pa- 
 rents ! such a child was in no one ^omi fitted 
 for the service. Beware how you destroy your 
 son to relieve you from expenses at home !
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 251 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 [It has occurred to the Editor, that these 
 letters, extracted from a mass of family 
 documents, might aid the reader in com- 
 prehending Horatio Howard Brenton's nar- 
 rative.] 
 
 FROM MISS FANNY HOWARD TO HER DEAR 
 FRIEND, MISS ALICE MOWBRAY. 
 
 " My DEAR Alice, 
 
 " What would the world be to 
 me if it were not for you ? Do not — do not, 
 I entreat- you, be unfaithful to me now, for, 
 indeed, I could not bear it ! I have sat here, 
 in ray own room, with your letter in my hand,
 
 252 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 all the afternoon, not reading it over and over 
 again, as I used once to read your letters, but 
 thinking how much changed you are from the 
 time — the happy, happy time — when you 
 thought I was always right, and loved this 
 and hated that, just as I loved and hated. 1 
 know how foolish all that was, but I often 
 shed bitter tears when I remember that it is 
 all past. 
 
 " You appeal to my womanly pride ! Good 
 heavens ! My pride ! Why, Alice, if I might 
 only be his slave, and he would acknowledge 
 me as such, I would gladly kiss the very, 
 ground touched by his foot every day of my 
 life. And yet I hate him, Alice ! — I hate 
 him ! His pride, his moral coxcombry, his 
 punctilious coolness, his impertinent assump- 
 tions that the lives of all around him are to be 
 governed according to a certain set of ideas he 
 has imbibed from — Bah ! I need not tell you 
 whence, 
 
 " You say that I write with violence that 
 almost approaches vulgarity ; that when you
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 253 
 
 compare my later letters with those earlier 
 ones you have been so foolish as to keep, you 
 are shocked at the change you can discover in 
 them, an'd at their complete want of any 
 religious fervour or even sentiment. 
 
 " Dear, dearest Alice ! I sometimes burst 
 into a flooxi of tears, and then I am religious 
 for a little time, and pray to God. And 
 sometimes I wander through our village 
 churchyard of an evening, and fancy, for a 
 moment, that I am religious, because the 
 associations and deep stillness and solitude of 
 the place affect my nerves. But otherwise ; 
 I am not at all religious now, and I do not 
 want to he ! I only want to be at rest, and to 
 forget everything. 
 
 " Horatio has done this, and yet you say 
 that he is not to blame ! 
 
 " Oh ! Alice, Alice ! love and pity your 
 wretched 
 
 "Fanny Howard."
 
 254 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 FROM MISS FANNY HOWARD TO HER DEAR 
 FRIEND, MISS ALICE MOWBRAY. 
 
 "My DEAR Alice, 
 
 " You say you find it impossible to arrive 
 at any comprehension of the state of the house- 
 hold at Ashdown Vale, and I do not wonder 
 at it — for I myself, who have formed a part 
 of it all my life, am sometimes quite lost in 
 astonishment at it. 
 
 " You are quite right in guessing that my 
 father completely identifies himself with the 
 present position of affairs, and that my mother 
 secretly dislikes it. She has never expressed 
 anything of the kind to me, but I often feel 
 that her heart is talking to mine. My dear 
 mother ! I believe — I fear — that she knows 
 how it is with me, aud pities me day and 
 night. 
 
 " As you begged of me, in the name of our 
 friendship, to cease from hating that Ellen 
 Percy, I have lately attempted to do so. I 
 have made myself her constant companion, 
 scarcely leaving her a moment ; I am her
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 255 
 
 secretary, and assist her in the execution of 
 all her plans ; and keep myself quiet fifty times 
 a-day, by telling myself that she has been like 
 a mother to Horatio, and that Horatio loves 
 her, and that I ought to be true to my own 
 heart, and love everything that he loves. But 
 
 there is one thing ! If she dares (This 
 
 was crossed out.) 
 
 " You ask if he ever pays me any of those 
 attentions now, of which I used to boast so 
 much when you and I were girls and play- 
 mates ; and, if he do, how I receive them. I 
 can scarcely describe to you the terms on 
 which we appear to be with each other, but 
 they more nearly resemble those which com- 
 monly exist between guardian and ward than 
 anything else. He seems to think that he is 
 bound to atone for having made my life a 
 curse, by exercising an intolerable surveillance 
 over my thoughts and actions. And, oh ! 
 Alice, he has sometimes — I feel, at this mo- 
 ment, as though I could murder them both ! 
 — dared to talk with Ellen Percy about what
 
 256 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 they call my 'future settlement in life/ and 
 even to discuss whom it would be best for me 
 to marry ! And I bear this, and you say I 
 have no patience ! 
 
 " Of course, I understand your enquiry 
 respecting the curate, Fitzjames, notwith- 
 standing the cleverness and appearance of 
 indifference with which it is put. I am watch- 
 ing him, at present, as I would some curious 
 animal; but I must see more clearly what 
 position he takes with respect to this' wonder- 
 ful Ellen Percy, before I permit myself to 
 communicate my opinion. 
 
 " Always yours, 
 
 " Fanny Howard." 
 
 FEOM MISS FANNY HOWAED TO HER DEAR 
 FRIEND, MISS ALICE MOWBRAY. 
 
 " I do not suppose I shall be able to finish 
 this letter, Alice, or that you will ever receive 
 it ; and I only sit down to write it in the same 
 spirit as that in which one sometimes way- 
 wardly touches a Avound, to test its uttermost
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 257 
 
 anguish. You know the little wood coppice, 
 which runs from behind the left wing of the 
 rectory, down to the three-acre field, and how, 
 when the ^un-light brings out the vivid green 
 of the underwood, and the quaint outlines of 
 the gnarled stems, it resembles some old 
 mediaeval- landscape ? Well, I was sitting in 
 the house-keeper's room, engaged in no more 
 laborious occupation than that of watching the 
 rooks tear up the yellow crowsfoot beneath the 
 window, -when I saw the curate come down the 
 little golden thread of a path through the 
 coppice, and adding to the natural ungainliness 
 of his appearance, by showing a consciousness 
 in every movement that some one was watching 
 him. I confess that I stared somewhat rudely, 
 for I was fascinated by the man's uncouthness, 
 and the strong dislike I felt for him, from the 
 first moment we ever met. At length he 
 crossed the stile, and disappeared into the road, 
 and I felt as though I had been suddenly re- 
 lieved from the weight of an impending 
 calamity. 
 
 VOL. II. S
 
 258 HORATIO HOWAED BRENTON. 
 
 " I never felt so glad to be alone as I did at 
 that moment, it seemed to me as though I 
 tasted the very joy of solitude, and I longed 
 for a deeper draught of it. T should have 
 been glad to know that there were no living 
 beings within miles of me ; I should have been 
 glad if the birds had all fallen asleep and 
 dreamed their songs instead of singing them, 
 and the windmill ceased the slow waving of its 
 arms on the distant hill. I wanted utter soli- 
 tude, and utter silence ! What then was my 
 horror, when the person I most hated in the 
 world entered the room, and began that kind 
 of conversation of which I bear the greatest 
 dislike, and which can be called neither bubble, 
 nor gossip, nor prattle, nor anything else but 
 ' language ; ' there is no soul or heart in it, 
 not even a bad heart or a bad soul. Well, I 
 was too indignant even to show my indigna- 
 tion, and I permitted him to sit beside me, 
 and to pour forth his usual flood of impertinent 
 admiration. At length he began to speak of 
 Horatio, and I blushed deeply, from no other
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 259 
 
 feeling than anger, but he chose to put on a 
 meanmg look, and went on. I have no pa- 
 tience to tell you all that he said, but he spoke 
 of some Rosa, whom Horatio had fallen deeply 
 in love with, at Halifax, and was still in 
 love with, ' almost unto death.' I could not 
 help starting, and gazing at the man full in 
 the face, and he went on, hinting at mysterious 
 obstacles in the way of his marrying any girl 
 but one, and that his despising these obstacles, 
 would bring him to the utmost ruin. As I had 
 began to listen to the man's narrative, I was 
 forced, by my very want of interest in it, to 
 listen calmly, longing all the time that an 
 earthquake would disturb it. At length he 
 changed his tone, and began to express his 
 admiration of Miss Fanny Howard. I was 
 willing to excite my dislike to the man to the 
 utmost, and led him on. From growing warm 
 he grew confidential and hopeful, and favoured 
 me with some of his expectations, should 1 
 join my lot to his. This was the point to 
 which 1 wished to bring him, and 1 now dis- 
 
 s 2
 
 260 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 covered that (as indeed I had long expected) 
 that Horatio Howard Brenton and Ellen 
 Percy had quietly arranged together, (oh, 
 AHce ! pray that I may have patience) that I 
 was to marry this wretch ! this reptile ! and 
 that the gift of my worthy self was to be ren- 
 dered a little more acceptable, by being accom- 
 panied by the presentation of some living on^ 
 my patron's estate. 
 
 " My pen drops from my fingers, Alice. 
 
 '* Fanny Howard."
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 261 
 
 CHAPTER XVIIL 
 
 When three weeks had flown by — and very 
 rapid was their flight — we moved off" to Ash- 
 down Vale, to present my uncle to my mother. 
 When we approached the rectory, Ellen re- 
 quested to see my mother before my uncle 
 was introduced ; so, giving her time to ab- 
 stract her from the room, we loitered at the 
 carriage, when old Hardy, catching the side- 
 view, exclaimed — " Surely, I cannot be de- 
 ceived, Mr. Oliver ?" 
 
 " No, my old friend, you are not, and you 
 are another tie to keep me on earth ; and 
 where is your daughter ?" 
 
 " Before you, sir ! "
 
 262 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 He kissed Louisa as if she had been his own 
 child. The poor woman was somewhat flus- 
 tered, smoothed her feathers, and asked — 
 
 " Pray, what have I done that I am to 
 be kissed in this way, sir ? Sir, father and 
 Mr. Horatio, both of you, ought to be ashamed 
 of yourselves ! " and off she scampered. 
 
 The rector led my uncle into his study, and 
 they had it all to themselves there; and as 
 these matters are not pleasant to lookers-on, 
 I left the meeting with the ladies to the 
 rector and Ellen, betaking myself to my room, 
 where I was again assailed by Louisa, for 
 letting my uncle kiss her before all the ser- 
 vants, and the post-boys — that was the crown- 
 ing sin. 
 
 " And why, sir, did you not let me know all 
 this at your sister s ? I would not have 
 minded so much, there, sir — there, where no 
 tell-tales, gadabouts, &c. But the post-boys, 
 sir — oh ! " and she burst out again. 
 
 " Well, the only way I see, is to take the 
 kisses back from your hands."
 
 HOKATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 263 
 
 This sent her away satisfied. I did not 
 come down untill dinner-time, for I had many 
 letters to answer ; one in particular, from 
 Captain L'ofty, informing me that he had been 
 offered a command for Algiers, but had de- 
 clined, and asking me for '* a full and com- 
 plete .^record of the action from your own 
 notes — nothing hearsay ; but every thing you 
 knoiv — even of the squabbles — for it is impor- 
 tant — but nothing hearsay. It may do good. 
 You know me to well to suppose I ask this 
 from idle curiosity. I may possibly see you 
 at Plymouth, all well." 
 
 When 1 reached the drawing-room, peace 
 prevailed, and my uncle was seated be- 
 tween my mother and aunt, quite at home. 
 They rose, and went through the customary 
 ceremonies, and all was quiet again. The 
 curate soon joined, and appeared delighted to 
 meet me. His brother had gone to join a 
 ship on the West India station, where he ex- 
 pected promotion and freight. He hinted 
 that it was not improbable that I became his
 
 264 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 first-lieutenant. I did not say no, but I 
 thought it very improbable. Indeed, I found 
 that the curate had somehow assumed such an 
 intimacy and confidence about my afiairs, that 
 he became troublesome, particularly on politi- 
 cal grounds, assuring me of a vast number of 
 votes which he had secured for me when I 
 presented myself as the candidate as the repre- 
 sentative for 
 
 To cut this matter very short, I assured 
 him that his labour had unfortunately been in 
 vain — that I had no interest or intention to 
 reside in this county — intended to steer clear 
 of politics, and would probably leave England 
 within a few months. 
 
 " But, sir, what will Sir Charles Harrison 
 think of this ?'' 
 
 '' Think !" I repeated — " I never dream of 
 the thoughts of others, as regards my move- 
 ments." 
 
 " Why, sir, he reckons upon you as an ally, 
 as a tower of strength." 
 
 " I regret it."
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 265 
 
 " I am, sir, authorized by liim to act in this 
 matter." 
 
 " Beware, then, you do not commit me or 
 yourself, for most assuredly I will not be 
 drawn into any political meshes. I must 
 instruct my solicitor on this matter." 
 
 "But,*my brother's interests, sir?" 
 
 ''Your brother belongs to an honourable 
 profession — let him look to it." 
 
 As the conversation was becoming painful, 
 Ellen asked me a question which I thought 
 required a private answer ; and, therefore, 
 shifting my position to the chair beside her, I 
 left the rector and curate to fight it out, for 
 which the rector was evidently prepared. 
 
 " I am so glad," she exclaimed " to see you 
 kept your temper. Promise me to take very 
 little wine, and I will send a note to you to 
 give you an early excuse for avoiding after- 
 dinner discussion. 
 
 " How fearfully hideous and disgusting is 
 the pastor converted into a political partizan ! 
 Here is a brand among us — so much for grati-
 
 266 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 tude in asking Sir Charles Harrison to aid his 
 brother in getting a ship. It is plain to the 
 meanest capacity that they have played a 
 game to entrap me ; and, if so, they shall be 
 disappointed ; I will remove our friend to a 
 better living, near Burnham Hall, and put 
 my old schoolmaster in here." 
 
 " Why, that has been my idea, if we can 
 persuade the rector to consent." 
 
 " That, Ellen, must be your part." 
 
 Before we went into dinner, Ellen whis- 
 pered to my uncle — 
 
 " Stop politics," 
 
 The dinner was damped ; every cover 
 seemed to disclose something which smelt 
 politically — even the game tasted of game 
 laws, poachers, &c. 
 
 After dinner it was nearly as bad. The 
 ladies retired, and just as the curate thought 
 to renew the action, my uncle beckoned, and 
 I bore up, and took my seat between him and 
 the rector. The curate could only follow 
 motion by taking up his position on the
 
 HOEATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 267 
 
 opposite side, and on the right of the 
 rector. 
 
 Old family matters were discussed, and my 
 Uncle Oliver observed — 
 
 " How is it Horatio does not remove you 
 to a better living ? If he does not, I will, 
 before he takes the power from me. We have 
 many better. Come, sir, speak." 
 
 " Well," I observed, " that is a subject for 
 ourselves. I have suggested that connected 
 with Burnham Hall. Ellen likes it, and we 
 have only to obtain the consent here. My old 
 schoolmaster will fill one or the other." 
 
 The rector replied — 
 
 " Well, Horatio, you know me too well — 
 anything near your residence — there I shall 
 die happy." 
 
 " Oh ! I have made my mind up for York- 
 shire or Norfolk ; but you will find me mostly 
 in Norfolk, I suspect, if not at sea." 
 
 The curate observed — 
 
 " Surely you will consult Sir Charles !" 
 
 " Certainly not ! nor even intimate to him 
 any intention of mne."
 
 268 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 My uncle, in his dry, sarcastic manner — 
 
 " And why, sir ? I have not the honour of 
 knowing of Sir Charles Harrison ; he is not, 
 to my knowledge, related to our family, and I 
 should consider him, not having family reasons, 
 very presumptuous and impertinent to breathe 
 his sentiments upon this matter." 
 
 "But, sir, I beg pardon. I think Sir 
 Charles is interested in the successor to the 
 rectorship." 
 
 My uncle curtly observed — 
 
 " I hope so, as I understand that Horatio's 
 old schoolmaster is a very fit and proper 
 person to inculcate every moral and honour- 
 able principle." 
 
 As the servant entered with the note, my 
 uncle added — 
 
 " Ah ! just in time ; we must settle this 
 with the ladies '" — and we retired. 
 
 On breathing freely in the drawing-room, it 
 was agreed, nem. con., that this party adjourn 
 to London forthwith — That the rectorship 
 connected with Burnham Hall be duly con-
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 269 
 
 ferred on Dr. Howard, he resigning to my 
 old schoolmaster. 
 
 In the course of the next day, I was about 
 to write fully to Fitzjames, and tell him my 
 mind, as I could not suffer myself to be in 
 doubt about our future acquaintance ; when 
 the servant brought up a note, which, on open- 
 ing, ran thus : — 
 
 "Dear Sir, — 
 " I have just left the Rev. Mr. Fitzjames, 
 and would wish to see you, in order, if possi- 
 ble, to smooth matters between you. Can 
 you appoint a meeting? 
 
 " Yours, &c., 
 
 " Charles Harrison." 
 
 We were all naturally indignant at this 
 attempt at interference by Sir Charles ; but 
 Ellen said — 
 
 " We know nothing yet of Sir Charles ; he 
 may be as grossly blinded as ourselves, and 
 entre nous, I am informed that this man 
 is paying his addresses — if not accepted — to a
 
 270 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 daughter of Sir Charles. It may save much 
 misery to see Sir Charles. Now, as you bel- 
 ligerent gentlemen, to whom we humble maids 
 of England look up with confidence for pro- 
 tection in the hour of need, consider it be- 
 neath you to hear poor Sir Charles tell his 
 story; let me assume, pro tern., the cham- 
 pionship for the other sex. He will not call 
 me out ; his passions, if he has any, will be 
 subdued, and he may simply hint to me what 
 he might be induced, ostentatiously, to demand 
 from a man." 
 
 Her idea was considered good. She was 
 known to be legally the person to whom this 
 afiair belonged ; and, upon the face of the 
 transaction, if hostile (fas est ah lioste doceri), 
 she therefore wrote an additional note, stating 
 that as she was the legal representative, until 
 I proceeded as a Brenton — which I could do 
 at any moment — she must forbid any inter- 
 view in the matter in question. But if it 
 suited Sir Charles, she should be very happy 
 to see him in London, respecting the matter 
 in question.
 
 UORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 271 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 By a somewhat free expenditure of money, we 
 were soon comfortably settled in London, in a 
 house in Grosvenor Square ; and it was there 
 that the projected interview between Ellen 
 and Sir Charles took place, leading to a com- 
 pletely amicable understanding. 
 
 I made, of course, an early call at the 
 Admu'alty, and as Sir Charles wished to make 
 a better acquaintance with the first-lord and 
 the naval worthies, he requested to be allowed 
 to accompany me. 
 
 " I know the waiting-room well enough, 
 Horatio, and can keep out of your way until 1 
 am called."
 
 272 HORATIO HOAVARD BREJ^TON. 
 
 I first called on my friend, who carried me 
 on to the senior ; and he then told me, that 
 as my absence on law affairs required my 
 vacancy to be filled up, I had been superseded, 
 and the first-lord, as he would himself inform 
 me, had promoted me on half-pay, ' contrary 
 however to my ideas,' bowing. 
 
 I observed that Sir Charles Harrison was 
 anxious to make his acquaintance, when he 
 inquired for what object. 
 
 *'None that I know, Sir George, but as 
 being an influential government member." 
 
 " Oh ! indeed ; he is not waiting, is he ?" 
 
 " He is, sir," and turning to my friend I 
 said — '* he is anxious to see you too, sir." 
 
 So the bell rang violently, and Sir Charles 
 was ushered in. He was very politely re- 
 ceived, and requested to sit. But he excused 
 himself on the ground that time was valuable 
 to all parties, and that he could explain him- 
 self easier ' on his legs ' — smiling, as did the 
 others. He commenced — 
 
 ''My young friend here is, I find, to be
 
 nORATlO HOWARD BRENTON. 273 
 
 promoted ; the reasons possibly may not just 
 
 now be revealed by Lord C , but when it 
 
 may be convenient, I would be glad to con- 
 verse on tTiat subject confidentially, as the 
 
 accredited friend of Lord C . But my 
 
 present object is, as this gentleman is here to 
 see the first-lord, that you would be kind 
 enough to intimate to his lordship, that I 
 would much wish to see him upon matters 
 ofiicially connected with the interview." 
 
 " His lordship is fully prepared for my 
 visit." 
 
 " That Sir Charles would, I think, be better 
 managed without my interference, but we will 
 see further." 
 
 We rang the bell as the messenger ap- 
 peared. 
 
 "Tell the private-secretary I wish to see 
 him." 
 
 He entered. 
 
 Litroducing Sir Charles, he said — 
 
 " Here is Mr. Howard to see his lordship by 
 appointment, perhaps, you would hint to his 
 
 VOL. II. T
 
 274 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 lordship, tliat Sir Charles also wishes to see 
 him." 
 
 " Exactly, I understand, his lordship expects 
 Sir Charles." 
 
 Sir George shaking him by the hand, 
 said — 
 
 " Very glad, Sir Charles, to make your ac- 
 quaintance ; and glad to see you in my house 
 below, whenever it suits your convenience be- 
 fore eleven, or after two, we are only in stables 
 here." 
 
 The secretary now inducted us to the first- 
 lord and retired. We took our seats opposite to 
 his lordship on the side of the fire. It is, I 
 believe, customary for the first lord to open the 
 business by some leading matter. He did so. 
 
 '' I am happy, Mr. Howard, that we have 
 now a good plea for your promotion. You 
 have, it appears, exhibited some claim by 
 Lord Exmouth's report, not for separate 
 valour, because no chance ofiered, but, as your 
 captain explained, for peculiar discipline and 
 ability beyond the ordinary course, and a
 
 HORATIO HOAVARD BRENTON. 275 
 
 steadiness and model of secrecy ; — not forgotten 
 when your services may be required. Your 
 present conduct meets also with approbation, 
 and your preferment now may stop any idle 
 tongue hereafter. Your commission, sir, 
 simply awaits the form of office, and you can 
 take it home with you. At present, avoid the 
 Admiralty ; when these affairs have blown 
 over and it suits your views, it is the opinion 
 of my distinguished naval colleagues, that you 
 should not remain idle. But come not here. 
 Sir Charles will see to your interests, and you 
 will hear from me." 
 
 Shaking me by the hand, he said, " I wish 
 to see Sir Charles alone." 
 
 Retiring, I visited my good friend and 
 patron, and he, having signed my commission, 
 sent me down to the chief clerk, telling me I 
 was too great a stranger at Whitehall. I then 
 told him the first lord's advice ; he frowned as 
 none but he could frown, and I dropped down 
 the stairs like a monkey, into the chief clerk's 
 room. 
 
 T 2
 
 276 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 '' Well, Horatio, I give you joy, my good 
 boy. I have your bit of parchment, and here 
 is your letter, you had better take it, too." 
 
 " Will you do me a favour ?" I asked. 
 *' Oertainly." " Then let that ominous letter 
 be sent to Grosvenor Square, to-night, at six, 
 Avith plenty of wax, and the largest seal you 
 have ! make it ominous. '''' 
 
 a Very good, I think I understand you. 
 You do not mind the size ?" 
 
 " Oh no, the larger the better." 
 
 We shook hands, I visited the round, and 
 got home. 
 
 Noble was still absent, and I feared might 
 not arrive in time for dinner. I waylaid Sir 
 Charles, and imposed secrecy, even to move- 
 ments of countenance. To-night was to be 
 a full dinner of the happy family. 
 
 I first enlisted Louisa and her father, called 
 them into my study and schooled them. 
 
 " Let me see ! we have twelve, the round 
 dozen, — in case of accidents, there should be 
 two spare shots. Bring a waiter for fourteen 
 glasses of champagne, and the glasses."
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 277 
 
 Louisa looked very inquisitive. 
 
 " Well, I see you are looking out for my 
 uncle's wines to be taken off your hands, but 
 it won't do." 
 
 "■ How tiresome you are. Father, do keep 
 
 him quiet." 
 
 " No, Louisa ! ask the post-boy." 
 
 " Well, come along, Louisa, look here. Can 
 you keep a secret ? Read that." 
 
 Giving her the parchment, and her arms 
 were around my neck. The father said — 
 
 " Here are the post-boys." 
 
 She minded not. 
 
 At length — '' Well ! what part am I to 
 play," handing the commission to her father to 
 read, who exclaimed — 
 
 "Thank God then you ivill stay with us, 
 Captain Horatio !" 
 
 "Now, Louisa and Hardy, mark me — 
 about six o'clock the postman, or some other 
 individual, will bring a letter, that is not to be 
 delivered to me until Captain Noble calls 
 for champagne, you will then, Louisa, if
 
 278 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 you are not afraid to expose your few grey 
 hairs (no one will see them) by pulling off 
 your cap, bring in this waiter with this parch- 
 ment as a mat; and having in Hebe style 
 given each person their glass, finish at Captain 
 Noble, who will then read the commission." 
 
 "Yes, sir; but (curtsying), pray, sir, who 
 is Hebe — no bad one, I hope ?" 
 
 " Oh, no, Louisa ; she is cup bearer to the 
 gods." 
 
 " I will break every glass, if you go on 
 that way, Mr. Horatio. Pray, father, tell 
 him, now he is a captain, he must get sedate." 
 
 I next encountered Ellen. 
 
 " Well, Ellen, this is to be a gay evening ; 
 you are to give us a very best dinnner, in 
 compliment to Sir Charles, and I hope will 
 induce the ladies to make their toilettes in 
 accordance." 
 
 "Well, then, as the doctor, and Mr. Deedes, 
 and Noble will be late, I shall defer dinner one 
 hour to prevent it being spoiled — that will 
 afford time for embellishments. But how very
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 279 
 
 thoughtless of you, Horatio, to place me in 
 such a dilemma !" 
 
 '* Why, Ellen, it is simply clearing for 
 action at midnight — -well-regulated ships are 
 always ready." 
 
 " Well, you shall have a ship's dinner, and 
 it wiH be entirely your fault." 
 
 '' Good ! Ellen, ships' dinners are not so 
 bad when we have such affectionate hearts to 
 provide them. But, here is Charlotte — the 
 very angel I sought !" -giving her my arm. 
 " Come along, and tell me all the secrets." 
 
 " I have no secrets, Horatio ; but I must 
 retort — Where have you sent my husband, 
 and when will he return ? You have made 
 this quite a ship of war. Go there, come 
 here, is the only order understood." 
 
 " Well, Charlotte, I have now come to you 
 in great anxiety, to learn at what hour Noble 
 gave you reason to believe that you might 
 expect his return." 
 
 "Why, Horatio, you are becoming quite 
 legal or diplomatic. Well, I have reason to
 
 280 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 believe that Captain Noble — my husband — 
 your brother-in-law — intended that I should 
 understand that he intended to return the 
 moment that business on which he was en- 
 gaged permitted, or, in fewer words — ' Back, 
 my love, to dinner.' " 
 
 The noise of a carriage and voice indicated 
 his presence ; he advanced to us — 
 
 " All right — quite complete ! Hear all by- 
 and-bye." 
 
 " Well, Noble, when you have finished all 
 you have to tell Charlotte, I should wish to 
 see you before you dress for dinner." 
 
 He soon joined me, 
 
 " Now, Horatio, what is in the wind ? — for I 
 see you are in better spirits." 
 
 " Well, that remains to be seen ; but you 
 are such a mad-cap, one cannot get you to 
 play any part well." 
 
 " Trust me, and see if I cannot." 
 
 '' ' Needs must,' you know. I have no one 
 else. Listen. Now, my appointment is ex- 
 pected to-night. If it comes, you will know
 
 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 281 
 
 if all is right by my throwing the letter to 
 you, when you will call out champagne. The 
 servants will understand ; and, as the last 
 glass reaches you, turn up the mat and read. 
 But mind, when you read the first, it is to 
 the Polly — famous — as lieutenant. You 
 comprehend ?" And he punched my ribs. 
 
 " Well, if I were a commander, sir, I might 
 resent it. Unfortunately, I cannot get over 
 your head now." 
 
 " Yes," he replied, showing his ivory front, 
 " No hope of that, Horatio, or I would bend 
 my back for the leap. All the same ; it is 
 not probable that my pendant will ever fly 
 again ! " 
 
 "Nothing more probable. Noble, if good 
 and true men are required." 
 
 He bowed — was silent, and retired to dress. 
 
 Another noise of wheels — fussy enquiries, — 
 and two more strangers entered. The gentle- 
 man and lady were received by Hardy, and 
 conducted up stairs — and all was silent. My 
 establishment, for the present, was on this
 
 282 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 floor ; I therefore took no further notice, 
 fancying it might be Mr. and Mrs. Deedes. 
 
 The party were assembled in the drawing- 
 room, and awaiting the announcement of 
 ' Dinner on table/ when a person, not at all 
 clearly recognized, advanced, bowing and 
 smiling. A rapid sound of welcomes, and the 
 shaking of hands, with " Where have you 
 come from?" in Noble's loud voice, told pretty 
 clearly that Captain Lofty had arrived. 
 
 After the second course and just before the 
 cheese, &c., I saw Louisa in the distance, 
 holding the letter. I told Hardy to bring it, 
 which he did with more than usual ceremony, 
 taking care that Ellen should see it — for she 
 now always took the head of the table, my 
 mother being too delicate and absent. She 
 exclaimed — 
 
 "Oh, Horatio ! another of those ominous 
 foolscaps. Do not read it now !" 
 
 Louisa now advanced — "Please, sir, the 
 porter says it is immediate, and he must know 
 you have read it."
 
 HORATIO HOAVARD BRENTON. 283 
 
 " Well, tell him, all right ;" and with a 
 carving-knife, much to Ellen's horror, I cut 
 the paper. " May I read?" I enquired. 
 " Oh, yes I who can prevent your service V 
 I pitched it to Noble, and he read — 
 
 .e^- 
 
 '' Sir, 
 
 ^\ am commanded by their lordships to 
 acquaint you that you are appointed to the 
 Folly — infamous ; and you are immediately to 
 repair to the office for your appointment." 
 
 " Champagne." 
 
 " Well, tell the man I cannot go to-night." 
 Louisa and her father now advanced, and, 
 filling the glasses, each person was prepared, 
 Noble warning them that they must wait for 
 him. At length, as he cleared his last glass 
 oflf the tray, he turned up the parchment and 
 said — 
 
 " By virtue of this . document we will con- 
 gratulate Commander Horatio Howard Brenton 
 as the commander of the Polly — infamous — 
 ' for rank.' Ladies and gentlemen, that means 
 ^ on sliore.'
 
 284 HORATIO HOWARD BRENTON. 
 
 Such, gentle reader, is the form of ' wetting 
 a commission,' on shore, of a commander or 
 captain. There are other modes, but as I am 
 not a promoter of noisy mirth, undue excess, 
 or any drunken revels, I cannot describe it by 
 those rules. 
 
 END OF VOL. II. 
 
 CHARI-ES SEVAN AND SON, PRINTERS, CBAPIiL STREET, OROSVENOR SQUAliK.
 
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