r happy and
well-conducted mess; the collecting together of so many young men, with
all their varied plans of amusement, into which the others are easily
persuaded to enter, with just sufficient duty on guard, or otherwise,
not to make the duty irksome; all delight too much at first, and,
eventually from habit, too much occupy their minds, to afford time for
study.

In making this observation, I must be considered to speak generally.
There are many studious, many well-stored minds, many men of brilliant
talents, who have improved the gift of nature by constant study and
reflection, and whose conduct must be considered as the more
meritorious, from having resisted or overcome the strong temptation to
do otherwise, which is offered by their profession.

"I wish," said Irving, who was stretched out his full length on one of
the coops abaft, with the front of his cap drawn over his eyes--"I wish
this cursed voyage was at an end. Every day the same thing; no
variety--no amusement--curry for breakfast--brandy pawnee as a finish.
I really begin to detest the sight of a cigar or a pack of cards."

"Very true," replied Ansell, who was stretched upon an adjacent coop in
all the listlessness of idleness personified--"very true, Irving; I
begin to think it worse than being quartered in a country town inhabited
by nobodies, where one has nothing to do but to loll and spit over the
bridge all day, till the bugle sounds for dinner."

"Oh! that was infinitely better; at least, you could walk away when you
were tired, or exchange a word or two with a girl as she passed over it,
on her way to market."

"Why don't you take a book, Irving?" observed the major, laying down the
one with which he had been occupied to join the conversation.

"A book, major? Oh, I've read until I am tired."

"What have you read since you embarked?" inquired his senior.

"Let me see--Ansell, what have I read?"

"Read!--nothing at all--you know that."

"Well, perhaps so; we have no mess-newspapers here: the fact is, major,
I am not very partial to reading--I am not in the habit of it. When on
shore I have too much to do; but I mean to read by-and-bye."

"And pray, when may that by-and-bye be supposed to arrive?"

"Oh! some day when I'm wounded or taken prisoner, and cannot do any
thing else; then I shall read a good deal. Here's Captain Oughton--
Captain Oughton, do you read much?"

"Yes, Mr Irving, I read a great deal."

"Pray, may I take th