ars, that during the commander's absence a
dashing enemy, the captain of the Hussar, a man of war, had entered
the cabin privately, and having satisfied himself of the state of the
vessel, took an opportunity to overhaul the ship's stores, when drinking
rather freely of some choice love~age, a cordial kept expressly for the
commodore's own use, he was unexpectedly surprised by the return of
the old commander on board; and in making his escape through the cabin
window into a boat he had in waiting, unfortunately left his time-piece
and topmast behind. This circumstance is said to have put the commodore
out of conceit with his little frigate, who has since been paid off',
and is now chartered for general purposes." At this little episode of a
well-known Bath story, the captain laughed heartily, and Transit was so
much amused thereat, that on coming in contact with the commodore and
the captain in our perambulations, he furnished the accompanying sketch
of that very ludicrous scene, under the head of

The Bath beau and frail belle,
Or Mr. B------and Miss L-----.

An excellent band of music, which continues to play from one to half
past three o'clock every day during the season, greatly increases the
attraction to the rooms, and also adds much to the cheerfulness and
gaiety of the scene. We had now nearly exhausted our materials for
observation; and having, to use Transit's phrase, booked every thing
worthy of note, taken each of us a glass of the Bath water, although I
confess not swallowing it without some qualmish apprehensions from the
recollection of the four lines in Anstey's Bath Guide.

"They say it is right that for every glass,
A tune you should take that the water may pass;
So while little Tabby was washing her rump,
The ladies kept drinking it out of the pump."

~318~~A very pleasant piece of satire, but somewhat, as I understand,
at the expense of truth, since the well from which the water in the pump
room is obtained is many feet below the one that supplies the baths;
situation certainly assists the view of the satirist. I ought not
to pass over here the story told us by our old friend Blackstrap,
respecting the first discovery of these waters by Bladud, the son of Lud
Hudibras, king of Britain; a fabulous tale, which, for the benefit of
the city all true Bathonians are taught to lisp with their horn book,
and believe with their creed, as genuine