t important that our navy should be employed in time of
peace, and our officers gain that practical knowledge without which the
theoretical is useless. Was this insisted upon, a considerable force
would be actively employed, at no expense to the country, and many
officers become valuable, who now are remaining inactive, and forgetting
what previous knowledge they may have acquired of their nautical duties.

At the same time, every East India ship should be compelled to take on
board her whole complement of English seamen, and not be half manned by
Lascars and Chinamen.

But I presume I must be careful how I attempt to legislate for that
country, or I shall have two tame elephants sent after me by the man
_what_ puts his hair in papers!

VOLUME THREE, CHAPTER FIVE.

"What singular emotions fill
Their bosoms, who have been induced to roam,
With flattering doubts, if all be well or ill,
With love for many, and with fears for some!"
BYRON.

The China fleet arrived without encountering any further danger; the
commodore and commanders of the several ships composing the fleet
received that praise from their countrymen to which their conduct had so
fully entitled them. As soon as the _Bombay Castle_ had entered the
basin of the East India docks, Newton requested, and easily obtained,
permission to leave the ship. He immediately directed his steps to
Greenwich, that he might ascertain if his father was in existence; for
he had received no letters since his departure, although he had taken
several opportunities to write. It is true that he had not expected
any; he knew that his father was too absent ever to think about writing
to him, and his uncle much too busy to throw away any portion of his
time in unnecessary correspondence.

When we approach the dwelling containing, or supposed to contain, an
object of solicitude, of whose existence we are uncertain, what a thrill
of anxiety pervades the frame! how quickened is the throbbing of the
heart! how checked the respiration! Thus it was with Newton Forster as
he raised his hand to the latch of the door. He opened it, and the
first object which delighted his eyes was his father seated upon a high
stool smoking his pipe, in the company of two veterans of the hospital,
who had brought their old bones to an anchor upon a large trunk. They
were in earnest conversation, and did not perceive the company of
Newton, who waited a little while, holding the door aj