emen are scarcely known; it
is only in warm climates where they abound. Another most destructive
insect to the biscuit is the weevil, called by the mids purser's l----e.

While walking down Fore Street one morning with one of my messmates we
came up with two well-dressed females, when he exclaimed, "By Job! what a
well-built little frigate she is to the left! How well she carries her
maintop-gallant sail! What a neat counter, and how well formed between the
yardarms! I'll heave ahead and have a look at her bow chasers, head rails,
and cut heads, for I think I have seen her before somewhere. You," said he
to me, "can take the one on the starboard hand." He then let go my arm and
shot ahead. He had no sooner done so than the youngest of them exclaimed,
"Why, my dear George, is that you?" "Yes," he replied, "my dear Emily, and
my dear mother, too; this is, indeed, taking me aback by an agreeable
surprise. How long have you been here?" They were his mother and only
sister, who had arrived that morning and were going to the Admiral's
office to gain information respecting the ship to which he belonged. His
mother was a genteel woman, to whom he introduced me; but what shall I say
of his sister! She won my heart at first sight. She was a beautiful,
delicate girl of about nineteen. Her figure haunted me for months
afterwards. They were at the "Fountain," and intended staying there until
we sailed. "You will go on with us," said his mother. "Yes," said he,
"that I will, my dear mother, but after I have conveyed yourself and my
sister to your anchorage I must make all sail I possibly can on board, and
ask the first lieutenant for fresh leave. I hope to be with you in about
an hour." Having seen them both to the inn, we made our bows and repaired
on board. On explaining to the lieutenant his reason for wishing to go
again on shore he obtained further leave, put on a fresh set of rigging,
jumped into the boat that had brought us off, and was soon in the fond
arms of his mother and sister. Shall I say I envied him? No, I did not; I
only wished my mother and sister--for I had, like him, only one--were at the
"Fountain" and I alongside of them.

In less than a month we were ready for sea, and when we were all a
_taunto_ I was proud to belong to such a commanding and majestic-looking
vessel. Before sailing, I will indulge my reader with a little sketch of
the officers of our noble man-of-war.

The most noble captain I have before desc