odium would necessarily be attached to the sentence, I should feel it
as one of the happiest events of my life that I were dismissed from
the situation which I now hold under his command. I now beg that the
honourable court will allow the documents I lay upon the table to be
read in support of my character."

When this was over, the court was cleared, that they might decide upon
the sentence. I waited about half-an-hour in the greatest anxiety, when
I was again summoned to attend. The usual forms of reading the papers
were gone through, and then came the sentence, which was read by the
president, he and the whole court standing up with their cocked hats on
their heads. After the preamble, it concluded with saying; "that it was
the opinion of that court that the charges had been _partly_ proved, and
therefore, that Lieutenant Peter Simple was dismissed his ship; but, in
consideration of his good character and services, his case was strongly
recommended to the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty."

CHAPTER SIXTY THREE.

PETER LOOKS UPON HIS LOSS AS SOMETHING GAINED--GOES ON BOARD THE
"Rattlesnake" TO PACK UP, AND IS ORDERED TO PACK OFF--POLITE
LEAVE-TAKING BETWEEN RELATIONS--MRS. TROTTER BETTER AND BETTER--GOES TO
LONDON, AND AFTERWARDS FALLS INTO ALL MANNER OF MISFORTUNES BY THE HANDS
OF ROBBERS, AND OF HIS OWN UNCLE.

I hardly knew whether I felt glad or sorry at this sentence. On the one
hand, it was almost a death-blow to my future advancement or employment
in the service; on the other, the recommendation very much softened down
the sentence, and I was quite happy to be quit of Captain Hawkins, and
free to hasten to my poor sister. I bowed respectfully to the court,
which immediately adjourned. Captain Hawkins followed the captains on
the quarter-deck, but none of them would speak to him--so much to his
disadvantage had come out during the trial.

About ten minutes afterwards, one of the elder captains composing the
court called me into the cabin. "Mr Simple," said he, "we are all very
sorry for you. Our sentence could not be more lenient, under the
circumstances: it was that conversation with the gunner at the taffrail
which floored you. It must be a warning to you to be more careful in
future, how you permit any one to speak of the conduct of your superiors
on the quarter-deck. I am desired by the president to let you know,
that it is our intention to express ourse