ervice; and also to be intelligible to
those young persons whom it is very important to instruct in general and
even popular views, but for whom it would be needless to write a new
elementary treatise. * * * *

"This is a sketch of my plan. What think you of it? I must add one
thing, however, that you must be the senior officer on the occasion. I
shall act in all this matter, and in the most perfect good faith, as
your subordinate."

In responding to this full and frank overture, I entered into a few more
particulars respecting my progress and purpose in the projected work;
and invited him--on his return from France--to come at once to Bedford
and ransack my papers.

Accordingly, in the autumn of 1836, Captain Basil Hall and his
family--the whole of the Schloss Handfeldt party--arrived at my house,
where he was located in a quiet library, with all my materials for the
Naval Dictionary before him. Here he remained in close examination of
them during two days, when he promised to send me his ultimatum in
writing after due deliberation. He required time for this, seeing I had
fairly warned him that my onerous undertakings would necessarily throw
the heavier share of our performance upon his shoulders. On the 27th of
November I received a letter from Edinburgh, in which he made this
statement:--

"With respect to the Marine Dictionary I think we have come to a clear
understanding--namely, that for the present it is standing fast. _I_
certainly had a notion that I was an interloper, and as soon as I saw
the vast deal you had done in the way of preparation, that it became me
as a man of fair dealing, to back out. This does not, however, appear to
have been your wish, but on the contrary that we may still make a joint
work of it by-and-by, when we have leisure, both of us, to engage in it
heartily--tooth and nail. I shall therefore keep it in my thoughts, and
endeavour to shape my future plans so as to meet this view, and, should
I see occasion, I can write to you about it. My present notion is, that
if ever we do set about it, I must come to Bedford for a season, and
give myself entirely up to the work, under your direction. The work, to
be worth a straw, or at all what would be expected from you and me,
would require no small labour on our parts, for a considerable length of
time."

We consequently lay upon our oars for some time, but occasionally
pulling a stroke or two to keep to the station, and be ready for
head-w