tarboard bow. They hauled up upon the larboard
tack with the ebb tide, and having passed the Lizard, kept away for
Mount's Bay, to avoid the chance of falling in with any of the king's
vessels, and being again impressed. At daylight they ran in under St.
Michael's Mount and once more stepped upon English ground.

Here, as by previous agreement, they divided the provisions, and took
farewell of each other.

"Good bye, gentlemen," said Collins; "allow me to observe that, for
once, you may think yourselves fortunate in having been placed in my
very respectable company!"

VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

Once more upon the waters.
BYRON.

As Newton had lost his credentials from Captain Northfleet, as well as
the vessel confided to his charge, he did not consider it necessary to
pay his respects to the port admiral at Plymouth. On the contrary, he
set off as fast as his legs could carry him to Liverpool, to ascertain
the condition of his father. We shall pass over the difficulties he
experienced on his journey. There is no country where travelling is
more easy or more rapid, than in England, provided that you have plenty
of money; but when you travel _in forma pauperis_, there is no country
in which you get on so badly. Parish rates and poor laws have dried up
the sources of benevolence; and as Newton did not apply to the overseers
for his three-half-pence a mile, he got on how he could, which was badly
enough. When at last he did arrive at Liverpool, he found himself a
stone or two the lighter, and would have been pronounced by Captain
Barclay to have been in excellent training.

Newton had written to his father, acquainting him with his impressment;
but was doubtful whether the letter had ever been received, as it had
been confided to the care of one of the women who left the frigate the
evening previous to her sailing. When he arrived at the house he
perceived his father at his bench as usual, but doing nothing, and the
shop windows were bare.

Newton entered, and his father looked up.

"Why, Newton, my dear boy, is it you?" cried Nicholas; "what a long
while you have been away! Well, how is Mr Hilton?--and how is your
poor mother?"

"My dear father," replied Newton, taking his hand, "did not you receive
my letter?"

"No, I received no letter. What a time you have been away I declare it
must be two or three months, or more."

"It is nearly twelve months, my dear father: I was pressed at Bris