r to the head swabwasher, and should not like to trouble the
gentleman either for cash or slops, without a formal introduction."

At this juncture, the fiery face of the port-admiral became more fiery,
his fierce small eye more flashing, and his ivory-handled stick was
lifted up tremblingly, not with fear, but rage. "Pray sir," said he to
me, "who is he?" pointing to my friend; "and who are you?"

"This gentleman, sir, I take to be either a swindler or Josiah Cheeks,
Major-General of the Horse Marines, of his Majesty's ship, the _Merry
Dun_, of Dover," handing to the admiral the acknowledgment; "and I am,
sir, Ralph Rattlin, just come down to join his Majesty's ship, the
_Eos_."

"I'll answer for the truth of the latter part of this young gentleman's
assertion," said Captain Reud, now coming forward with Lieutenant
Farmer.

"Is this your writing, sir?" said the admiral to the discomfited
master's mate, in a voice worse than thunder; for it was almost as loud,
and infinitely more disagreeable. "I see by your damned skulking look,
that you have been making a scoundrel of yourself, and a fool of this
poor innocent boy."

"I hope, sir, you do not think me a fool for believing an English
officer incapable of a lie?"

"Well said, boy, well said--I see--this scamp has turned out to be both
the scoundrel and the fool."

"I only meant it for a joke, sir," said the _soi-disant_ Mr Cheeks,
taking off his hat, and holding it humbly in his hand.

"Take up your note directly, or I shall expel you the service for
forgery."

The delinquent fumbled for some time in his pocket, and at length could
produce only threepence farthing, a tobacco-stopper, and an unpaid
tavern-bill. He was forced to confess he had not the money about him.

"Your fifty-pound bill," said I. "The bank must be open."

The major-general looked at me.

It was a good thing for the giver of the IOU that the mirth the whole
transaction created did not permit the old admiral to be so severe with
his "whys," as he would have been. He, however, told the culprit's
captain, whom he had just brought on shore in the barge, to give me the
twenty shillings, and to charge it against him, and then to give him an
airing at the mast-head till sunset; telling him, at the same time, he
might feel himself very happy at not being disrated and turned before
the mast.

I was departing, very well satisfied with this summary method of
administering justice, when I foun