sometimes anchored just beyond range of their shells, and
frequently when the wind was light hauled the trawl, and were richly
rewarded by a quantity of fine fish. I was at length relieved by another
cruiser, and again anchored in the Downs. We were a fortnight refitting,
during which time I dined several times at the admiral's table, where I
had the pleasure of meeting Sir R. Strachan, Sir P. Durham, and several
other distinguished officers. One day, after dinner, the characters of
several eccentric officers were the subject of conversation.

"I make no doubt," said a veteran captain, "that most of the present
company recollect a man by the name of Billy Culmer, a distant relation of
Lord Hood's. He was a short time one of my lieutenants, and was between
thirty and forty years of age before he obtained his commission. The next
time I dined with Lord Hood, who was then one of the Admirals in the
Channel Fleet, I was determined to request his lordship to give me a brief
outline of his history, which was nearly this. Shall I proceed, Lady
Campbell?" "Oh, by all means, Captain M."

"'The Culmers were distantly related to me by marriage,' said his
lordship. 'Billy, as he was always called, was sent to me when I hoisted
my pendant as master and commander. He unfortunately had lost an eye when
a boy in one of his freaks, for they could do nothing with him at home.
When he came on board I was not prepossessed in his favour; his manners
were rough and bearish, although he had some redeeming qualities, for he
was straightforward and frank. After being with me about two years, he
said he was tired of being a midshipman, and requested me to obtain his
discharge into the merchant service. I remonstrated with him to no
purpose. To prevent his deserting, which he declared he would do, I
procured his discharge, and he entered on board a West India ship going to
Jamaica. I had lost sight of this extraordinary being for more than eight
years,' continued his lordship, 'when, as I was standing on the platform
at Portsmouth, waiting for a boat from the frigate I commanded, I was much
surprised to see Billy Culmer, in a dirty sailor's dress, a few yards from
me. He perceived me, and pulled off his hat. "Hulloa!" said I, "Billy;
where have you come from? I understood you were dead." "Not so hard up as
that, sir," replied he. "I am d----d." "Explain yourself," said I. "Why,"
said he, "I am d----d in the King's service, for I shall never be ab