e so, with all my heart. Let the gigs be all dressed and cleaned,
and the boat manned at six bells. Pass the word for them to get their
breakfast."

As it was better that I should wait for the admiral's getting up, than
that he should wait for me, I was on shore, and up at the office at
half-past seven o'clock, and found that the admiral was in his
dressing-room. The secretary was there, and I delivered my orders and
despatches, with which he went up to the admiral. In about a quarter of
an hour he came down again with the port-admiral's request that I would
wait for him, and stay to breakfast. The secretary remained with me,
extracting all the West India intelligence that I could give him.

As soon as the admiral made his appearance, he shook me warmly by the
hand. "Captain Keene," said he, "I wish you joy: I see you are
following up your career in the West Indies. We know you well enough by
the despatches, and I am glad to be personally acquainted with you.
This last business will, I have no doubt, give you the next step, as
soon as you have been a little longer as commander. Mr Charles, desire
them to make the signal for the Diligente and schooner to come into
harbour. The Indiaman may, of course, do as he pleases. Now then, for
breakfast."

The admiral, of course, asked me as many questions as the secretary, and
ended, as I rose to take my leave, in requesting the pleasure of my
company to dinner on that day. As the reader may suppose, I had every
reason to be satisfied with my reception.

As soon as I had left the admiral's office, I put into the post-office,
with my own hands, my letter to my mother, and one to Lord de Versely.
In the latter I told him of my good fortune, and enclosed a copy of my
despatch to the Admiralty. Although the despatch was written modestly,
still the circumstances in themselves--my having recaptured an Indiaman,
and carried, by boarding, a vessel of equal force to my own, and
superior in men--had a very good appearance, and I certainly obtained
greater credit than it really deserved. It was not at all necessary to
say that I hoisted French colours, and therefore took the schooner
unawares, or that at the time most of her men were on board of the
Indiaman; the great art in this world is, to know where to leave off,
and in nothing more than when people take the pen in their hands.

As soon as I had finished my correspondence--for I wrote a few lines to
Mrs Bridgeman, at C