him, begging pardon for the mistake, although he
coloured up very much at being detected. "I really beg your pardon,"
said he again, "it was quite a mistake:" whereupon the sailor threw the
pewter pot at the waiter, saying "I really beg your pardon too,"--and
with such force, that it flattened upon the man's head, who fell
senseless on the road. The coachman drove off, and I never heard
whether the man was killed or not.

I inquired of the gentleman how soon we should be at Portsmouth; he
answered that we were passing the lines; but I saw no lines, and I was
ashamed to show my ignorance. He asked me what ship I was going to
join. I could not recollect her name, but I told him it was painted on
the outside of my chest, which was coming down by the waggon: all that I
could recollect was that it was a French name.

"Have you no letter of introduction to the captain?" said he.

"Yes, I have," replied I; and I pulled out my pocketbook in which the
letter was. "Captain Savage, H.M.S. _Diomede_," continued I, reading to
him.

To my surprise he very coolly proceeded to open the letter, which, when
I perceived what he was doing, occasioned me immediately to snatch the
letter from him, stating my opinion at the same time that it was a
breach of honour, and that in my opinion he was no gentleman.

"Just as you please, youngster," replied he. "Recollect, you have told
me I am no gentleman."

He wrapped his plaid around him, and said no more; and I was not a
little pleased at having silenced him by my resolute behaviour.

CHAPTER THREE.

I AM MADE TO LOOK VERY BLUE AT THE BLUE POSTS--FIND WILD SPIRITS AROUND,
AND, SOON AFTER, HOT SPIRITS WITHIN ME; AT LENGTH MY SPIRITS OVERCOME
ME--CALL TO PAY MY RESPECTS TO THE CAPTAIN, AND FIND THAT I HAD HAD THE
PLEASURE OF MEETING HIM BEFORE--NO SOONER OUT OF ONE SCRAPE THAN INTO
ANOTHER.

When we stopped, I enquired of the coachman which was the best inn. He
answered that "it was the Blue Postesses, where the midshipmen leave
their chestesses, call for tea and toastesses, and sometimes forget to
pay for their breakfastesses." He laughed when he said it, and I
thought that he was joking with me; but he pointed out two, large blue
posts at the door next the coach-office, and told me that all the
midshipmen resorted to that hotel. The coffee-room was full of
midshipmen, and, as I was anxious about my chest, I enquired of one of
them if he knew when the waggon would come in.