ive him a sack of praters for nothing at all, at
all." "The case is nearly in point," replied the captain; "I am afraid I
have not gained so much on his weather-beam as I first imagined." The
signal was now made to weigh, and we were soon under sail. Next morning we
parted company with the frigates, swept the Bay of Mexico, ran through the
Turks' Island passage, and cruised between Capes Maize and Francois for
three weeks; took a small French schooner with tobacco, and burnt a small
sloop in ballast. Again our anchor found the bottom of Port Royal, and the
crew their copper and jet-coloured ladies.

One afternoon, taking a glass of sangaree at the tavern, I was accosted by
one of our late mids who had come on shore with some others to what he
called wet his commission. "Will you do me the favour to join us for a
quarter of an hour. We have a room upstairs," said he to me. I told him I
would in about five minutes. On entering, I found a gallon bowl filled
with strong punch, with his commission soaking in it, and eight jolly mids
sitting at the table in full glee. They all rose as I approached, and one
of them offered me a chair. "Come, sir," said the donor of the
entertainment, offering me a bumper from the contents of the bowl, "tell
me if it will suit your taste." "Not quite," replied I, "you have spoilt
it by putting your commission into it instead of your pocket, and it
smacks too much of ink and parchment." "I told you how it would be," said
he, addressing a sly, roguish-looking youngster, who had persuaded him to
put it in. "I vote that he shall drink it himself, and we will have
another." "Not on any account," said I, "without you will allow me to pay
for it." "That will never do," cried all of them. Another of a smaller
size was ordered, out of which I drank his success. I remained nearly half
an hour, during which time the large bowl was drained to the last dregs in
spite of its parchment flavour, and the parchment was, what the mids
called, returned high and dry to the owner of it, with the writing on it
nearly effaced. I remarked they ought certainly to have a patent for
wetting commissions, and wished them a pleasant evening.

On returning on board I found a note for me from the captain, to acquaint
me that we were to sail in a few days for Black River, in order to collect
a homeward-bound convoy, as we were ordered to England. I withdrew my
heart from the different little snug rooms I had left it in, and plac