" 146
THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR (_after C. Stanfield, " 210
R.A._)
H.M.S. _APELLES_ " 280
THE ENTRY OF THE ALLIES INTO PARIS BY THE PORTE " 330
ST. MARTIN, MARCH 31, 1814

A SAILOR OF KING GEORGE.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY EXPERIENCES.

My mother consents to my going to sea--Journey to Portsmouth--Join
H.M.S. _Blonde_--Take General Prescott and suite on board--We
sail--Supply West Indiamen with provisions and in return impress
six seamen--Windbound at Falmouth--Again sail--Attacked by four
French frigates, but escape and again make Falmouth--Finally sail
for West Indies--Amusements in crossing the Equator.

One morning sitting with my mother in the drawing room and entreating her
to comply with my wish to enter the Navy, she was so intent on listening
to my importunities and her patchwork that she did not observe that the
cat was running away with her favourite goldfinch; the cat, with the poor
bird in its mouth, was near the door, waiting to escape. Seeing what had
happened, I immediately ran to the poor little bird's assistance, but,
alas! too late, as the cruel animal had torn off one of its wings.

Whilst my mother was feelingly lamenting her favourite's untimely death,
and deliberating whether the cat should be given away, the door opened,
the culprit escaped, and Captain Elphinstone entered. On his observing my
mother's paleness, he requested to know if anything of a serious nature
had occurred in the family. "No," replied she, "except the loss of a
favourite bird, which I certainly regret, as it was killed by the cat in a
most distressing manner, and," added she, "my spirits are not at this
moment very good in consequence of my son's wishing to enter the Navy."
"The first," said he, "I lament, as it has deprived you of a pet; the
latter may in the end be a matter of rejoicing. Who knows but that your
son, if he enters that noble service, may turn out a second Hawke." My
ears thrilled at his remark.

"Do you really think, Captain Elphinstone," said my mother, with a
half-sorrowful countenance, "that it would be to his advantage?" "Most
assuredly," replied he, "as I think it very likely war will shortly be
declared against that unhappy and d