upheld, even
though not a mother nor a sister in the island, see a midshipman in
years!"

"Nobly said, Lord Geoffrey, and it shall be known at head-quarters.
_Your_ family is whig; and you do well, at your time of life, to stick
to the family politics."

"A small run on the shore, sir, would be a great pleasure, after six
months at sea?"

"You must ask Captain Stowel's leave for that. You know I never
interfere with the duty of the ship."

"Yes, sir, but there are so many of us, and all have a hankering after
_terra firma_. Might I just say, that I have your permission, to ask
Captain Stowel, to let me have a run on the cliffs?"

"You may do _that_, my lord, if you wish it; but Stowel knows that he
can do as he pleases."

"He would be a queer captain of a man-of-war, if he didn't sir! Thank
you, Admiral Bluewater; I will write to my mother, and I know she'll be
satisfied with the reason I shall give her, for not coming to see her.
Good-morning, sir."

"Good-morning,"--then, when the boy's hand was on the lock of the
cabin-door--"my lord?"

"Did you wish to say any thing more, sir?"

"When you write, remember me kindly to the Duchess. We were intimate,
when young people; and, I might say, loved each other."

The midshipman promised to do as desired; then the rear-admiral was left
alone. He walked the cabin, for half an hour, musing on what he had done
in relation to his property, and on what he ought to do, in relation to
the Pretender; when he suddenly summoned his coxswain, gave a few
directions, and sent an order on deck to have his barge manned. The
customary reports went their usual rounds, and reached the cabin in
about three minutes more; Lord Geoffrey bringing them down, again.

"The barge is manned, sir," said the lad, standing near the cabin-door,
rigged out in the neat, go-ashore-clothes of a midshipman.

"Have you seen Captain Stowel, my lord?" demanded the rear-admiral.

"I have, sir; and he has given me permission to drift along shore, until
sunset; to be off with the evening gun of the vice-admiral."

"Then do me the favour to take a seat in my barge, if you are quite
ready."

This offer was accepted, and, in a few minutes, all the ceremonies of
the deck had been observed, and the rear-admiral was seated in his
barge. It was now so late, that etiquette had fair play, and no point
was omitted on the occasion. The captain was on deck, in person, as well
as gun-room officers enough to rep