s
invariably the senior officer, and the masters of the merchant vessels
were obliged to go on board his ship to receive their convoy
instructions, and a distinguishing pennant, which is always given
without any fee.

But Skrimmage, who had never been accustomed to deliver up any paper
without a fee when he was in his former profession, did not feel
inclined to do so in his present. Make a direct charge he dare not--he,
therefore, hit upon a _ruse de guerre_ which effected his purpose. He
borrowed from different parties seven or eight guineas, and when the
masters of merchant vessels came on board for their instructions, he
desired them to be shown down into his cabin, where he received them
with great formality and very nicely dressed. The guineas were spread
upon the desk, so that they might be easily reckoned.

"Sit down, captain; if you please, favour me with your name, and that of
your ship." As he took these down, he carelessly observed, "I have
delivered but seven copies of the instructions to-day as yet."

The captain, having nothing to do in the meantime, naturally cast his
eyes round the cabin and was attracted by the guineas, the number of
which exactly tallied with the number of instructions delivered. It
naturally occurred to him that they were the clerk's perquisites of
office.

"What is the fee, sir?"

"Whatever you please--some give a guinea, some two."

A guinea was deposited; and thus with his nest-eggs, Mr Skrimmage,
without making a direct charge, contrived to pocket a hundred guineas,
or more, for every convoy that was put under his captain's charge.
After four years, during which he had saved a considerable sum, the ship
was declared unserviceable, and broken up, and Mr Skrimmage was sent on
board of the guard-ship, where his ready wit immediately pointed out to
him the advantages which might be reaped by permanently belonging to
her, as clerk of the ship, and caterer of the midshipmen's berth. After
serving in her for eight years, he was offered his rank as purser, which
he refused, upon the plea of being a married man, and preferring poverty
with Mrs S--- to rank and money without her. At this the reader will
not be astonished when he is acquainted, that the situation which he
held was, by his dexterous plans, rendered so lucrative, that in the
course of twelve years, with principal and accumulating interest, he had
amassed the sum of 15,000 pounds.

A guard-ship is a receiving-sh