had sent down a pattern of the dress he wished his crew to wear, and the
men as they joined had to put it on. It consisted of a blue jacket, a
red waistcoat, white or blue trousers, slippers of white leather, and a
hat with the ship's name in gold letters under a crown and anchor. All
the men wore pigtails, to the arrangement of which they devoted a
considerable portion of Sunday morning. They might then be seen in
groups, combing and brushing each other's hair, which hung down very
long behind, and then tying up the tails with a bit of blue cotton tape.
The captain was a young man, tall and slight, with a very effeminate
air, and as unlike his first lieutenant as he well could be. Still his
countenance was not bad, and he smiled in a pleasant way as he returned
our salutes.

"Very well done, Mr Saunders," he said, looking aloft, and then
glancing round the deck. "You have got the ship into good order, and I
hope to find the crew in the same satisfactory state. If not, we must
take measures to make them so. Though it's peace time, we must maintain
the discipline of the service."

After a few more remarks he retired to his cabin, where he had ordered
dinner to be prepared. He now sent to invite the first and second
lieutenants, the lieutenant of marines, the doctor, and three of the
young gentlemen, to dine with him. Such an invitation was like a royal
command. Nettleship and I, with Dick Larcom, who had just joined the
frigate, and who was a _protege_ of the captain, were the favoured ones.
The repast was sumptuous in my eyes, and unlike anything I had seen
before. Lord Robert was all courtesy and kindness. He inquired of each
of us what service we had seen, and particulars about our family
history.

"My father was a lieutenant, killed in action, and my mother lives in a
cottage near Plymouth," answered Nettleship.

"And I came in at the hawse-holes, and worked my way up. I have been in
ten general actions, and five-and-twenty engagements with single ships,
or cutting-out expeditions in boats," said Mr Saunders. "Here I am a
first lieutenant; and a first lieutenant I suppose I shall remain until
I'm too old to keep at sea, when perhaps I shall be rewarded with my
master's and commander's commission."

"Long before that period arrives, I hope," said Lord Robert, smiling
blandly. "I trust before many years are over to see you posted to a
ship like this."

I answered his lordship's questions with all