onsidered presumptuous in recommending him to a boatswain's
warrant.

"`I am happy to say that our casualties, owing to the extreme panic of
the enemy, are very few. I have the honour to be, Sir, your very
obedient and humble servant, ALCIBIADES AJAX BOGGS.

"`Wounded--Very severely, James Anderson, quarter-master.
Contusions--John Peters, able seaman; James Morrison, marine; Thomas
Snowball, captain's cook.'

"There, now; that I consider a very capital letter; no Frenchman, not
even an American, could have made out a better case. The Admiralty were
satisfied that something very gallant had been done, although the fog
made it appear not quite so clear as it might have been; and the
consequence was, that my commander received his promotion. There, now,
write your letter, and tell your sister that she must answer it as soon
as possible, as you are going out with me for orders in three or four
days, and shall be absent for three months."

Joey wrote a long letter to Mary; he stated the adventure with the two
scoundrels who would have robbed him, his afterwards falling in with a
gentleman who dealt in cutlery, and his being taken into his service;
and, as Spikeman had told him, requested her to answer directly, as he
was about to set off on a circuit with his master, which would occasion
his absence for three months.

Mary's reply came before Joey's departure. She stated that she was
comfortable and happy, that her mistress was very kind to her, but that
she felt that the work was rather too much; however, she would do her
duty to her employers. There was much good advice to Joey, much
affectionate feeling, occasional recurrence to past scenes, and
thankfulness that she was no longer a disgrace to her parents and her
sex; it was a humble, grateful, contrite, and affectionate effusion,
which did honour to poor Mary, and proved that she was sincere in her
assertions of continuing in the right path, and dotingly attached to our
hero. Joey read it over and over again, and shed tears of pleasure as
he recalled the scenes which had passed. Poor Joey had lost his father
and mother, as he supposed, for ever; and it was soothing to the boy's
feelings to know that there were some people in the world who loved him;
and he remained for hours thinking of Mary, Mrs Chopper, and his good
and kind friends, the McShanes.

Two days after the receipt of Mary's letter, Spikeman and Joey went to
the houses of their v