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had they been driven to desperation by | My senses were bewildered with astothe rejection of their terms.

nishment."This is a young friend of "The last division of the French troops mine," said Captain Montague, preembarked amid the curses and execra- senting me to the first lieutenant: "I tions of the people. From the decks of hope you will find him all you can wish. their vessels they heard the songs of And now, sir, you may go and visit triumph; and the blaze of the illumi- your future companions.' "Mr. Evans nated city, shining far out upon the har- (said the first lieutenant, calling to a bour, surrounded them with a light by midshipman on the larboard side of the which to read in each other's faces their deck, whose weekly account had been vexation. There was yet some trouble-fresh pipe-clayed, and now he was emsome hesitation on the frontiers. This ployed in trimming the collar of his was owing entirely to the intrigues of the shirt, so that his eye just peeped point bishop of Oporto, and the obstinate in- blank above it)-Mr. Evans.""Sir," terference of Gulluzzo, the Spanish gene- replied the cockpit beau, touching his ral, who refused to acknowledge the con- hat. "As soon as you have done adjustvention, and invested fort La Lippe. At ing your lee boards, and bowsed all length, however, the difficulty was re- taut, take this young gentleman round moved. The forts of Elvas, La Lippe, the ship, and then conduct him to your and Almeida, were evacuated: not a mess-berth.". “Ay, ay, sir; ay, ay,” Frenchman was left in Portugal." said Evans; and, then, in a lower tone, "I'll shew him the lions ;" and away we

THE MIDDY'S INTRODUCTION. went together. After examining the won

"Deep in that fabric where Brittannia boasts
O'er seas to waft her thunders and her hosts,
A cavern lies, unknown to cheering day,
Whose only sunshine is a taper's ray;

Where wild Disorder holds her wanton reign,

And careless mortals frolic in her train."

my

Or all situations which open to the aspiring mind of youth, none is so interesting, so fraught with conflicting feelings, as the first entry of a young novice on board a ship of war; 'tis like bursting into a new world, yet without quitting the old one. The day on which inauguration took place happened to be the anniversary of the birth of Royal George. The captain permitted me to accompany him in his own boat, and, when we reached Spithead, the ships, dressed in their gayest colours, commenced saluting. Oh, what a view was this for an enthusiastic mind! It spoke of glory in a voice of thunder; and, while looking at the British ensign waving in the breeze, I felt a glow of conscious pride at being enrolled among the gallant defenders of its dearest rights. The barge cut through the azure wave, and swept up alongside the Albion.' The boatswain's shrill pipe sounded, and four lads sprung over the side to extend the gang-way man-ropes. So I followed up the captain, and found the officers on the quarter-deck uncovered, the marines drawn up with presented arms, and the band playing Rule Britannia,' to salute their brave commander,

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ders of the wooden world, and swallowing as many marvellous stories as would fill a volume, we descended to the cockpit, and were guided by the glimmering rays of a candle to the midshipmen's berth. "Allow me to introduce Mr. B." said my conductor, pushing open the door, and thrusting me in. "Halloo ! why, Evans, what gulpin have you got there?" exclaimed a squat tawny figure, who was nearly enveloped in smoke and ""Tis a new messstifled in grease. mate," squeaked a little youngster. "A new messmate!" replied the other," then let's have a survey," taking down from a nail, the frame of what had once been a large and beautiful mirror, and, raising it to his eye by way of quizzingglass, he uttered a yell that filled me with horror. "Evans," said he, "Evans, I'm fainting at the sight! Bear a hand on deck, and order the captain to man the boat, and send him ashore again directly." I shrunk back. "Halloo, shipmate, don't lag astern!" said Evans, pushing me forward; "don't mind that old swab, 'tis only Tim Bucket, the blind fiddler."- "Me blind!" rejoined the other, flourishing his pipe in a tragical manner; "you know that you are Brutus that spake this; or, by the gods, this speech were else your last;" and down he sat. I was now literally hauled into the berth, and placed directly by the side of this terrific being.

"Let's

look at your teeth," said he. It was
complied with. "Ha, I thought so!
teeth like a shark-eat more in a day
than I could chew in a month. Here,
boy-you boy!"-"Yes, sir," replied a
miserable-looking object, poking his head
in at the berth door. 66
Go, you rascal,
and lock the bread-bag up, or we shall
soon have a southerly wind in it." Then
turning to me: "Here, sir, take this
card, with my compliments, to the pur-
ser's steward, and ask him to measure
your mouth for a spoon. And bear a
hand, d'ye hear? for the burgoo is al-
most ready; there'll not be much to
spare when the doctor's mates come out
of the sick bay."-"Which way am I
to go?" inquired I: “I can't find the
stairs." However, the boy of the mess
was ordered to attend me to the mid-
shipman of the watch, who directed
me to the purser's steward. He sent
me to the cook; the cook despatched
me to the boatswain's yeoman; and
he again to the carpenter's mate for
a two-foot rule. I now bid very fair
to make a complete tour of the ship,
and run the gauntlet through all the
petty officers; but the gunner under-
standing my difficulty, apprized me of
the trick, as one to which all fresh-
comers were exposed; advising me to
bear it patiently, and return joke for
joke. Again I descended. "Well,
have you got your spoon?" inquired my
tormenter.- "No!" repeated he, start-
ing upon his feet; how's that!"—
"Ask the gunner," was the reply.
"Here, doctor," rejoined the first, turn-
ing to a genteel young man of a pleasing
countenance: "Here doctor, you must
open a vein for him; but no, no, avast;
where's the cobbing-board? I under-
stand the art of Flay-bottom-he best.
Ay, ay, my spark, two dozen for imper-
tinence to your superior officer. Here's
a greenhorn hasn't been caught above
two hours, and comes Westminster Hall
over me already; but I'll soon make
you a subject for dissection."- "Who is
this young gentleman ?" inquired the as-
sistant surgeon." Who? why its some
great man in disguise come to sea to
wear his old clothes out. However, give
us your fist, my boy-don't sit mute;'
and he grasped my hand like a smith's
vice, till I roared with anguish, to the
great diversion of all present. "Here,"

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continued he, "take hold of the grog,"
handing it across the table. I was un-
willing to let slip so favourable an op-
portunity of showing good friendship
and courting forbearance, so took the
glass; but hadn't time to convey it to
my lips before it was hastily snatched
away. "There, there, that's enough,
you must only smell it; I never allow
any body to drink with me." The ward-
room steward appeared with an invita-
tion from the first lieutenant to dinner.
This was a very seasonable relief, and
gladly accepted. Oh, how different was
my reception !—the feast of reason and
the flow of soul.' The remainder of the
day passed away with much pleasant-
ness; and at ten o'clock I again de-
scended, with a palpitating heart, to my
hammock. Recollections of my parents,
of my home, of my friends, now rushed
upon my mind, as I surveyed the dark
and gloomy place which was to be my
future abode. It doubly embittered the
moment, and I was nearly playing the
infant with my eyes; but the sentry
opening his lantern to retrim his lamp, a
gleam danced upon the bright buttons of
my uniform, and instant conviction flashed
upon my mind that manly fortitude was
characteristic of a British sailor. Ad-
vancing towards my swinging bed, I
stripped, and desirous of displaying my
agility, made one spring into it. Poor
novice! over it went; down I came,
breaking my shins upon the cable
burst of laughter echoed from all sides.
“A clean capsize, by Jove!" said one.
"Strong_gales and squally," cried ano-
ther. "Foundered in the lee scuppers,'
said a third. "Dowse the glim," cried
a fourth; and instantly we were in total
darkness. I reproached them with bit-
terness of heart for their ungenerous
treatment of a stranger, and received in
reply a bucket of cold water. Roaring
with all my might for some time, I had
at last the satisfaction of seeing some
one descending the main hatchway with
a lantern. "Halloo!" cried the old
quarter-master, climbing over the cables,
"Halloo! what pig's stuck here? Ano-
ther such a squall would rouse old Da-
vey, and make him twist your neck into
granny's knots." The words were scarcely
uttered when down he went, an old sail
having been thrown over him from above,
and all was again in total darkness.

A

the old quarter-master round on his jack
like a roasting capon,
"lower away
handsomely." It was done, and he
stood once more on his legs.
" I'll
trounce the young rogue for this!" ex-
claimed Harvey, "I'll keel-haul the
young lubber! No more sleeping in his

"Ha, you scape grace?" cried old Harvey, struggling" Ha, you scape-grace, you'll come to the gangway some day for your tricks, you will! Halloo! Sanders! halloo! turn out, man, and lend us a hand."-"De'il smash me if Sanders gangs a foot-I canna be fash'd. If you play wi' kittens you must fore-watch!"-" Whisht,-whisht,—-dinna sight to be scratchet; but there's Paddy Howard-rouse him out, mon, turn him out." "Och, by my conscience," cried Pat, "you're a soft-headed swab, so you | are. Faith, and I'll turn out without calling. Arrah, where are you, jewel?" "Here I am," said Harvey. 66 By the toe of my grandfather, and so you are; and now I'll go and fetch a light."

64

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mak a blathering about it, but gang your ways, and let honest men sleep," said Sanders; while Pat assisted me in arranging my hammock and shifting my dress. Pascoe now appeared: Why, Harvey, what's the matter here?"Matter!" cried the enraged veteran ; "I'll tell you what, young sir, you've played these tricks too long, and now

""You'll go and have a glass of grog," exclaimed the midshipman, interrupting him. "Ay, ay, with all my heart; but no more of the monkey.""I kenn'd as much-I kenn'd as much," roared Sanders; while with a heavy heart and dear-bought caution, I once more essayed to enter my bed, and with Pat's assistance succeeded. But sleep departed from me. The novelty of my situation, the discipline I had undergone, with the smarting of my shins, all combined to keep me awake; and 'twas not till very near morning that I closed my weary eyes, and forgot all my cares and troubles in a sweet refreshing slumber.— Greenwich Hospital.

THE POETICAL SAILOR.

Ay, ay, bear a hand, mate, bear a hand." Pat was some time absent, during which the old man swore, raved, and growled, with all the sublime pathos of a bear. At last the light appeared: "Bear a hand with the glim, you bogtrotter, do." He was obeyed; and though I was drenched to the skin and shivering with cold, sitting astride the muddy cable, yet to have kept from laughing at the scene which presented itself was utterly impossible. Pat Howard, a tall raw-boned figure, full six feet high, with the remnant of a shirt upon his shoulders, reaching no lower than his loins, under which a blanket was rolled round, resembling a petticoat, and leaving an amazing length of train behind, one arm entirely void of covering, thick bushy hair and whiskers, with a pair of hands and a beard outrivalling THE captain of a certain British frigate, the shades of night, now made his ap-tural antipathy to a cat. a man of undaunted bravery, had a naA sailor, who "Halloo, Pat!" cried Har- for some misconduct had been ordered a vey; "why you look like a comet revolving round the rays of a farthing his captain the following petition: flogging, saved his back by presenting to candle." This drew my attention to the speaker. He was neither sitting, lying, nor kneeling, but appeared to be in all three postures at the same time. His efforts to get disengaged had forced his head through the sail, and his struggles had twisted it several turns round his throat, threatening strangulation, but displaying a most formidable cravat. being relieved from this superfluous article of dress, how was I surprised to find the old boy had been all this while actually hanging by the middle in a running noose thrown over him, and hauled taught upon deck for this purpose! "Lower away!" bellowed Pat, turning

pearance.

On

By your honour's command
A culprit I stand-

An example to all the ship's crew;
I am pinion'd and stript,
And condemned to be whipt;
And if I am flogg'd-'tis my due!

A cat, I am told,

In abhorrence you hold :
Your honour's aversion is mine!
If a cat with one tail

Makes your stout heart to fail,
Oh, save me from one that has nine!

London:-Printed by JOSEPH LAST, 3, Edwardstreet, Hampstead-road; and published by W. M. CLARK, 19, Warwick-lane, Paternosterrow ; J. PATTIE, 17, High-street, Bloomsbury, and may be had, by order, of all Booksellers in town and country.

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in lieu of the naval and military succour which they had stipulated by treaty to provide: a species of aid the most efficacious and best adapted to the wants and situation of France that could possibly be devised. However, the British government thought proper to connive at this for some time, contenting themselves with directing their envoy to protest against the convention as a violation of neutrality, and a just cause of war whenever Great Britain should choose to take it up upon that ground.

Ar the commencement of the late war | to pay to France a certain sum monthly, with France, the British ambassador at the court of Madrid, was directed to ascertain how far his Catholic majesty considered himself bound by the treaty of St. Ildephonso-by which he had agreed to furnish to France a contingent of naval and military force, for the prosecution of any war in which the French government might at any time be engaged. This treaty gave France a direct control over the resources of the kingdom of Spain; and was of itself, in the event of hostilities with France, a just cause of an immediate declaration of war by Great Britain against that kingdom. In the month of July, 1803, the first formal demand of succour was made by France; and in the October following, a convention was signed, by which Spain agreed VOL. I.

The subserviency of the court of Spain to Buonaparte was so complete and notorious, that little hope was entertained that peace could long subsist between Great Britain and that power, after hostilities had recommenced with France.

2 T

As, however, it was undoubtedly the policy and the plan of Buonaparte, to derive all possible assistance from Spain, without having her directly implicated in his quarrel with England, he did not permit her, for some time, to commit any direct and gross acts of hostility: he knew that the greatest benefit he could derive from her was, not men, or even ships, but money; this was necessary to enable him to carry on his continental warfare, and to follow up his scheme of raising and equipping a navy. Thus it was that Spain remained for a short time at peace with this country; and represented herself, and wished to be considered and treated by the British cabinet, as a free and independent nation. It was soon, however, discovered, that her South American treasures were entirely at the disposal of Buonaparte; and that her neutrality was employed for the purpose of replenishing the coffers of our enemy. Representations and remenstrances were repeatedly made on this head to the court of Madrid, but in vain; her frigates still came from the new world laden with bullion, and this bullion was regularly transmitted to France. At last the British ministry determined effectually to put a stop to these proceedings; and for this purpose Captain Moore, in the Indefatigable, with three other frigates, was ordered to cruize off Cadiz, to intercept some very richly laden ships which were expected in that port from South America. On the 5th of October, one of the British squadron made the signal for four sail being in sight, nine leagues from Cape St. Mary; a general chase was immediately commenced, and it was soon ascertained that they were the expected Spanish frigates, making for Cadiz. The van ship carried a broad pendant, and the ship next her a rearadmiral's flag: as they were not under the least apprehension of being intercepted, or attacked by the British, they did not either attempt to escape, nor were they prepared for action. Captain Moore, having ordered each of his squadron to run up alongside of the four Spanish frigates, hailed them to shorten sail; to this request no answer was given; a shot was then fired by the Indefatigable, across the rear-admiral, upon which he hove to, and an officer was sent on board to inform him, that Captain

Moore had peremptory orders to detain his squadron. The officer, after waiting some time, returned with an unsatisfactory answer, when the Indefatigable bore down close upon her opponent, the other British ships doing the same. The signal for close battle was immediately thrown out; and in less than ten minutes after the engagement commenced, the admiral's second astern blew up alongside the Amphion, with a dreadful explosion.

On board of this frigate, called La Mercedes, was embarked a native of Spain, who was returning from America, with the savings of twenty-five years' industry, and with his whole family, consisting of his wife, four daughters, beautiful and amiable women, and five sons grown up to manhood. Before the action began, the merchant himself, and one of his sons, went on board the largest ship, from which he witnessed the loss of his whole property, and saw his wife, daughters, and four of his sons, surrounded with flames, and sinking into the abyss of the ocean. It would be profanation to attempt by any language to describe the feelings of this man's agonized soul at this dreadful moment; while it would be doing injustice to Captain Moore, not to suppose, from his known character, that it required the strongest sentiments of duty to his country, to keep down regret that he had been instrumental in bringing about this sad catastrophe: as soon as the action terminated, he took the unhappy husband and father into his own cabin, and was unceasing in his endeavours to administer all in his power towards the alleviation of his sufferings.

The Spanish admiral's ship continued to hold out for about half an hour after the Mercedes had blown up; when, finding that she could not escape, her opponent having got to leeward of her, she struck her colours: her example was immediately followed by another of the squadron; while the fourth, which carried the broad pendant, endeavoured to make her escape. This, however, she was prevented from effecting, by the Medusa and Lively giving chase to her: at first she gained on them, but before sunset, Captain Hammond in the Lively (which had outsailed the Medusa), having brought her to action, she soon after surrendered.

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