nd, so that
my misfortunes might not attract any notice.

We then went to what they called the Ranelagh Gardens to see the
fireworks, which were to be let off at ten o'clock. It was exactly ten
when we paid for our admission, and we waited very patiently for a
quarter of an hour, but there were no signs of the fireworks being
displayed. The fact was, that the man to whom the gardens belonged
waited until more company should arrive, although the place was already
very full of people. Now the first lieutenant had ordered the boat to
wait for us until twelve o'clock, and then return on board; and as we
were seven miles from Portsmouth, we had not much time to spare. We
waited another quarter of an hour, and then it was agreed that as the
fireworks were stated in the handbill to commence precisely at ten
o'clock, we were fully justified in letting them off ourselves. O'Brien
went out, and returned with a dozen penny rattans, which he notched in
the end. The fireworks were on the posts and stages, all ready, and it
was agreed that we should light them all at once, and then mix with the
crowd. The oldsters lighted cigars, and fixing them in the notched end
of the canes, continued to puff them until they were all well lighted.
They handed one to each of us, and at a signal we all applied them to
the match papers, and as soon as the fire communicated, we threw down
our canes and ran in among the crowd. In about half a minute, off they
all went in the most beautiful confusion; there were silver stars and
golden stars, blue lights and Catherine-wheels, mines and bombs,
Grecian-fires and Roman-candles, Chinese trees, rockets, and illuminated
mottoes, all firing away, cracking, popping, and fizzing, at the same
time. We all escaped very cleverly, and taking another dilly, arrived
at Portsmouth, and were down to the boat in good time.

Sunday being a fine day, we all went on shore to church with Mr Falcon,
the first lieutenant. We liked going to church very much; not, I am
sorry to say, from religious feelings, but for the following reason:--
the first lieutenant sat in a pew below, and we were placed in the
gallery above, where he could not see us, nor indeed could we see him.
We all remained very quiet, and I may say very devout, during the time
of the service; but the clergyman who delivered the sermon was so
tedious, and had such a bad voice, that we generally slipped out as soon
as he went up into the pulpit, and adj