d mostly in deep water, I
had not acquired accuracy and expedition in giving the soundings. But I
learnt a great deal more of my profession; Bramble explaining to me the
sails, rigging, and names and uses of the ropes, and the various
manoeuvres practised, all of which he would catechise me in afterwards,
to ascertain if I was perfect, and had remembered what he told me. I
was, therefore, under excellent tuition. Whatever port we entered
Bramble would point out the landmarks to me, state the distances from
point to point, and the dangers to be avoided. These I could not so
well retain perfectly, and required occasional reminding, but altogether
I gave him satisfaction. It was on New Year's Day, 1800, that we
boarded a large homeward-bound Indiaman, which had just struck
soundings. She was a thousand ton ship, with a rich cargo of tea on
board, and full of passengers, besides more than one hundred invalids
from the regiments out there, who had been sent home under the charge of
two officers.

What a difference there appeared to me to be between the Indiaman going
out and this one coming home! the first so neat and clean in her decks,
and this so crowded and so weatherworn by her long voyage. What with
troops in old jackets, which had once been scarlet, Lascars with their
curly black hair, and dark handsome features, yellow men, sickly women,
and half-caste children, with their Hindoo Ayahs, tigers, lions,
turtles, cows, sheep, goats, and pigs, on the booms and main deck, the
vessel was in a strange motley of confusion.

As soon as we were put on board, the captain, officers, and passengers
crowded round to inquire the news. Bramble, according to pilot custom,
had brought off one or two late Plymouth papers (one of which, I
recollect, gave the account of the cutting out of the Hermione by
Captain Hamilton); but the people on board were eight months behindhand
at least as regarded what had passed. They had not even heard of Sir
Sydney Smith's defence of Acre against Bonaparte, or anything else which
had subsequently occurred; so that as soon as Bramble had taken charge,
and put the ship's head the right course (for the wind was fair), there
was no end to question and answer. And while Bramble was questioned by
the captain and passengers, I was attacked by the midshipmen, or
guinea-pigs as they are called. Having a fair wind, we ran right for
the Downs, where we arrived on the morning of the second day. Here th