elonged to. I
informed him, and he told me he was Captain W., of the 31st Regiment,
going to join his division at Portsea, destined for Gibraltar. "It is
probable you will not join the frigate for a few days after your arrival,"
said he, "and if you do not, we have a mess at Portsmouth where I shall be
happy to see you." I thanked him warmly for his considerate and kind
invitation. I had only one opportunity of dining with him, as he embarked
three days after his arrival. About six o'clock in the evening I reached
the "Blue Postesses" where the midshipmen put their chestesses and eat
their breakfastesses. Next morning, and whilst I was prosing over my
breakfast, in walked a midshipman, about twenty years of age, with a face
which appeared to have been rolled down Deal beach a dozen times.
"Waiter," said he, "have you in the house a young officer lately arrived
from Lunnen?" "Ho, ho!" thinks I, "my boy, you are from my country the
West, and probably from where it rains upon Dock(1) nine months in the
twelve." "Yes, sir," said the waiter, "the young officer is eating his
breakfastesses;" saying this he brought him to my box. "Good morning,
sir," said he, "I have come on shore to take you on board. Have you all
your things ready?" "Yes," said I, "I shall be ready in twenty minutes.
Can you spare me that time? But," continued I, "have you breakfasted?--you
look rather cold,"--I was afraid to say hungry--"I think a cup of tea will
warm you." I then gave him one. "If you will allow me," said he, "I'll put
a poker in it." I wondered what he meant. It was soon explained. He called
the waiter and told him to bring a glass of rum, which he put into the
tea, and, as he thought I should feel the cold going off, he said I had
better do the same. As I considered him my superior officer I complied,
although the fiery taste of the spirit almost burnt my mouth, which he
perceiving smiled, and told me I should soon be used to it. "You will
oblige me," said I, "if you will give me a little insight into the
characters of the officers of the ship." "Why," said he, "the captain is a
tight one, and sometimes in a hurricane I never heard any officer pray so
well or so heartily as he does: his prayers, if not heard elsewhere, are
certainly heard by all on board, and are generally effective. However,"
added he, "you will soon be able to judge for yourself. The first
lieutenant is one of the old woman's school, an easy and good kind of
person, but