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CHAPTER LVIII.

MORE HASTE LESS SPEED.

one just like it. There, you are put out| men, I might have died a real Captain in again! So it was with the one I mean, the British Nary. For (as happened to when anything happened hastily.”. the now Captain Bowen, when Master of

The beautiful girl flung back her hair, the Queen Charlotte) I was offered a lieuand knelt to stoop her pitcher in the tenant's commission, and doubted about gurgling runnel; and then she looked at accepting it. Had I been twenty years bis silver locks, and was sorry for her im- younger, of course, I must have jumped at patience.

the offer; but at my time of life, and with “ Sir, I beg you to forgive me, if I have all my knowledge, it would have been too been rude to you. I am the maid from painful to be ordered about by some young the old house yonder. I am often sent for dancer; therefore I declined, at the same this water, because it sparkles much more time thinking it fair to suggest, for the than our own does. If you please, I must sake of the many true Britons now dependgo home, sir.”

ent upon me, that a small pecuniary reShe filled the red pitcher, and tucked mittance would meet with my considerathe blue skirt, as girls alone can manage tion. That faculty of mine, however, was it; and Sir Philip Bampfylde sighed at not called to the encounter; I never heard thinking of his age and loneliness, while more about it, and had to be satisfied with with an old-fashioned gentleman's grace glory. But if a man is undervalued often, he lifted the pitcher and asked no more and puts up with it, he generally finds that upon whose head he laid it.

fortune treats him with respect in other more serious aspects. For instance, what would have happened if Providence had ordained to send me into either of those sad

mutinies which disgraced our fleets so terriTo do what is thoroughly becoming and bly? That deep respect for authority which graceful is my main desire. That any (like the yolk of a nest-eng) lies calmly inman should praise himself, and insist upon side me, waiting to be sate upon; as well his own exploits and services to his native as my inborn sense of Nature's resistless land, or even should let people guess at determination to end by turning me into a his valour, by any manner of side-wind, gentleman (indications of which must have

- such a course would simply deprive me long ago been perceived by every reader), of the only thing a poor battered sailor not to mention any common sense of duty has left to support him against his pen- in the abstract and wages in the pocket, sion; I mean of course humble, but never these considerations must have led me to theless well-grounded, self-respect. lay a pistol to the head of almost every

This delicacy alone forbids me even to man I could find. However, from such a allude to that urgent and universal call for course of action grace and mercy preserved my very humble services which launched me: and perhaps it was quite as well. For me on the briny waves once more, and in I am not sure that I could have stopped time for a share in the glorious battle any one of the four mutinies entirely; alfought off Cape St. Vincent. Upon that though I can answer for it, that never great St. Valentine's Day of 1797, I was would bad manners take the lead in any Master of the Excellent, under Captain ship, while I was Master. It is the shillyCollingwood; and every boy in the parish shallying that produces all the mischief

. knows how we captured the Saint Isidore, If all our Captains had behaved like Capand really took the Saint Nicholas, though tain Peard and his first lieutenant, in the other people got the credit, and nearly St. George off Cadiz, at the first spread of took a four-decked ship of 130 guns, whose disaffection, it is my opinion that a great name was the Saint Miss Trinder, and disgrace and danger would have been who managed to sneak away, when by all crushed in the bud. But what could be rights we had got her.

expected when our Government showed However, let us be content with things the like weakness? Twice they went hanbeyond contradiction; the foremost of kering after peace, and even sent ambassawhich is, that no ship ever was carried into dors! Who can ram shot home with pleasaction in a more masterly style than the ure while things of this kind are encourExcellent upon that occasion. And the aged? To fight it out is the true Chrisweight of this falls on the Master, far more tianity, ordered by the Church itself. than the Captain, I do assure you. So And this we did, and are doing still, as highly were my skill and coolness com- Roger Berkrolles prophesied; and the only mended in the despatches, that if I could regret I have about it is, that a stiffness in have borne to be reduced below inferior' my knees enables the other boarders to

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LIVING AGE.

VOL. XXV.

take a mean advantage of their youth, and jump into the chains or port-holes of a ship (when by my tactics conquered), so as to get a false lead of me. However, no small consolation was to be gained by reflecting how much more prize-money would accrue to me than to any of these forward fellows, so that one might with an unmoved leg contemplate their precipitancy.

I happened to whisper into the ear of Grif fith that the whole of my stipend for Newton Church clock would now, according to my views of justice, be handed to Hezekiah's wife, inasmuch as the worthy gunsmith had rejoined the Church of England. And I said what a dreadful blow this would be to all the Nicodemites, when the gunofficer returned with money enough to build a chapel: however, I felt that it served them right, because they had lately begun to sneer at his good wife's wonderful prophesies. In a word, I had promised to find Hezekiah; and, both while in harbour and now when afloat, I tried to get tidings not only of him, but also of the Newton tailor, and Heaviside, and the three wild men, as well as young Harry Savage, Lieutenant Bluett, and Captain Bampfylde. For all of these being at sea and in war-time, who could say what had befallen them? Whereas I knew all about most of our people now living ashore in the middle of peace. How

Even a sorer grievance was the breaking up and dispersion of our noble and gallant ship's company, so long accustomed to one another and to sharp discipline in the Defence. Where was Captain Bampfylde? where was Lieutenant Rodney Bluett? What was become of our three fine savages? Even Heaviside and Hezekiah were in my thoughts continually, and out of my knowledge entirely. As to the latter worthy gunsmith, "Artillerist to the King and Queen, and all the Royal Family," I can only at present say that when I had been last at home, and before my acceptance of that brief appointment in the Ply-ever, of course one must expect old shipmouth dockyard-in short, when first I recovered strength, after that long illness, to cope with the walk both to and fro - I found occasion to go to Bridgend, with my uniform on for the sake of the town. I had not turned the corner of the bridge a good half-hour, before that important fact was known from the river-bank to the churchyard. And Griffith of the "Cat and Snuffers," set up such a Welsh hurrah [as good as the screech of a wild-cat trapped] that it went up the hill to Newcastle. In a word, Hepzibah heard of me, and ran down the hill, like a roaring lion, demanding her Hezekiah!

What ensued is painful to me even now to speak of. For though my conscience was refitting, and ready to knock about again, after carrying too much sail, I could not find it in my heart to give the mother of a rapid family nothing but lies to feed upon. Many men of noble nature dwell upon nothing but conscience; as if that were the one true compass for a man to steer by whereas I never did find a man - outside my own Sunday clothes, whose conscience would not back him up in whatever he had a mind for.

My own had always worked like a power plainly exposed to every one; thereby gaining strength and revolving as fast as a mountain windmill, when the corn is falling away to chaff. This, however, was not required in the present instance; for Hepzibah (like a good woman) fell from one extreme into the opposite. From bitter reviling to praise and gratitude was but a turn of the tongue to her; especially when

mates to be parted; and with all the vast force now afloat under the British flag, it would almost be a wonder if any of us should haul our wind within hailing distance of the others during our cruise in this world."

Nevertheless it did so happen, as I plainly will set forth, so far as I remember. Through the rest of the year '97 and the early part of the following year I was knocking about off and on near the Straits, being appointed to another ship while the Excellent was refitting, and afterwards to the Goliath, a fine 74, under Captain Foley.

In the month of May 1798, all our Mediterranean fleet, except three ships of the line, lay blockading Cadiz. Our Admiral, the Earl St. Vincent, formerly Sir John Jervis, had orders also to watch Toulon, where a great fleet was assembling. And our information was so scant and contradictory, that our Admiral sent but three ships of the line and a frigate or two to see what those crafty Frenchmen might be up to. But this searching squadron had a commander whose name was Horatio Nelson.

This was not by any means the man to let frog-eaters do exactly as they pleased with us. "I believe in the King of England; I have faith in discipline; I abbor all Frenchmen worse than the very devil." Such was his creed; and at any moment he would give his life for it. It is something for a man to know what he means, and be able to put it clearly; and this alone fetches to his side more than half of the

arguers who cannot make their minds up. I on a searching scurry without one frigate But it is a much rarer gift, and not often to scout for them! We were obliged to combined with the other, for a man to en- sail, of course, within signalling distance ter into, and be able to follow up, ways of each other, and so that line of battle and turns, and ins and outs, of the natures might be formed without delay, npon apof all other men. If this is done by prac- pearance of the enemy. For we now had tised subtlety, it arouses hatred, and can a man whose signal was " Go at 'em when get no further. But if it be a gift of na- you see 'em.” Also, as always comes to ture exercised unwittingly, and with kind pass when the sons of Beelzebub are love of manliness, all who are worth bring- abroad, a thick haze lay both day and ing over are brought over by it.

night upon the face of the water. So that, If it were not hence, I know not whence while sailing in close order, upon the night it was that Nelson had such power over of the shortest day, we are said to have every man of us. To know what he meant, crossed the wake of the Frenchmen, to pronounce it, and to perceive what almost ere it grew white again, without others meant, these three powers enabled even sniffing their roasted frogs. Possibly him to make all the rest mean what he this is true, in spite of all the great Neldid. At any rate such is my opinion; al son's vigilance; for I went to my hammock though I would not fly in the face of better quite early that night, having suffered scholars than myself, who declared that much from a hollow eye-tooth, ever since I here was witchcraft. What else could ac- lost sight of poor Polly. count for the manner in which all Nelson's Adiniral Nelson made no mistake. He equals in rark at once acknowledged him had in the highest degree what is called in as the foremost, and felt no jealousy hnman nature “genius," and in dogs and towards him ? Even Admiral Earl St. horses “instinct." That is to say, he knew Vincent, great commander as he was, is how to sniff out the road to almost anysaid to have often deferred to the judg- thing. Trusting to this tenfold (when he ment of the younger officer. As for the found that our Government would not men, they all looked upon it as worth a hear of it, but was nearly certain of a gold watch to sail under him. Therefore mighty landing upon Ireland), off he set we officers of the in-shore squadron, under for Egypt, carrying on with every blessed Captain Troubridge, could scarcely keep sail that would or even would not draw. our crews from the most tremendous and We came to that coast at a racing uproarious cheers when we got orders to speed, and you should have seen his vexamake sail for the Mediterranean, and place tion when there was no French ship in the ourselves under the command of Nelson. roadstead. “I have made a false cast, We could not allow any cheering, because Troubridge,” he cried; “I shall write to the Dons ashore were not to know a word be superseded. My want of judgment about our departure, lest they should in- may prove fatal to my King and counform the Crappos, under whose orders try.” they now were acting. And a British For our Government had sent him word, cheer has such a ring over the waters of through the Earl St. Vincent, that the the sea, and leaps from wave to wave so, great expedition from Toulon would sail that I have heard it a league away when for England or Ireland; and he at his roused up well to windward. So our fine peri] had taken upon him to reject such fellows had leave to cheer to their hearts' nonsense. But now (as happens by Nacontent when we got our offing; and ture's justice to all very sanguine men) he partly under my conduct (for I led the was ready to smite the breast that had way in the Goliath), nine seventy-fours suggested pure truth to him. Thus being got away to sea in the night of the 21th baffled we made all sail, and after a chase of May, and nine liners from England re- of six hundred leagues, and continually placed them, without a single Jack Span- beating to windward, were forced to bear iard ever suspecting any movement. Every up on St. Swithin's Day and make for the one knows what a time we had of it, after coast of Sicily. And it shows the value joining our Admiral; how we dashed of good old hands, and thoroughly sound away helter-skelter, from one end of the experience, that I, the oldest man perhaps world to the other almost, in a thorough in the fleet, could alone guide the fleet into wild-goose chase, because the Board of Syracuse. Here our fierce excitement Admiralty, with their usual management, bubbled while we took in water. sent thirteen ships of the line especially

From Chambers' Journal. and then fixing them to the wall of the inPARENTAL SAGACITY OF THE SWALLOW. jured nest. Notwithstanding all the dili

gence they used, they progressed but In the early part of last spring I had a slowly, and, after four hours' work, the visit from a brace of swallow3, who com- extent of repairs did not exceed threemenced to build a nest under my balcony, quarters of an inch in height by two inches in the fork of the bracket which supported in length. The following morning the it. The floor of the balcony being boarded, work was continued, and, as the little ones afforded complete shelter from the rain. were still alive, and in much the same conAs, however, the parlour-window was im- dition as I had left them, I concluded they mediately under the rest, the fumes from were well looked after by the parent birds. the gas, when the window was opened, I left bird-seed oat-meal, and water on tbe proved too noxious, and they abandoned the balcony, but the old birds did not touch idea of using it, and forth with removed to any. At evening the repairs had prothe adjoining bracket, where they finished a gressed so far as the gathering in of the suitable nest, their mode of construction lining and general trimming up of the being the following: They carefully col-jagged edges; but the reconstruction had lected all the fibrous matters they could advanced but little, the day having been horse-hair, wool, thread, &c. — and rolling very wet and stormy, so much so, that a these in the small pools made by the wat- considerable portion of the cotton was er-carts in the street, they then formed blown from my nest, and I had to move it them into little balls, about a quarter of into a more sheltered spot. an inch in diameter. These they carried The next day proved fine, and the new to the bracket under the balcony, and wall was raised more than an inch in fixed them in the fork thereof. The nest, height, whilst the length being so much when completed, formed an inverted cone greater as they approached the top, gave about six inches deep, leaving a space of evidence of continued industry; the abana little over two inches from the under doned nest was also considerably reduced floor of the balcony on the south side, the in size. Another day of hard labour renorth side being continued unto the floor duced the gap, and the opening had a semiof the balcony.

circular form, about one-third of the damAll went well until the young birds age being repaired. were hatched, when some mischievous On the morning of the fourth day after youngster discovered them, and, in an en- the calamity, I paid an early visit to the deavour to obtain possession of the nest, little ones, the sun being bright and warm, broke the wall of it, when the three little whilst the air was perfectly calm. Apinmates feil into the passage in front of proaching the blind cantiously, I peeped the house, where my man-servant discov- through, and discovered one of the old ered them; and, as he had been for many birds carefully pushing a little one to the years in Spain, where these birds are pro- edge of the balcony, where the other tected with religious care, he put them on parent bird was fluttering and supporting a napkin, and brought them to me. I himself by the bill, just on a level with immediately took them to the balcony, the flooring. In a few minutes the operaand placed them in a nest formed of tion was completed by the safe transfer of French cotton, and protected, as well as I the youngster to his back; the other could, from the cold and possibility of wet, parent immediately joined; and by the but leaving a space large enough for the time I got down to the hall door, the parent birds to get to them. I then closed youngster was safely lodged in the nest, the window, pulled down the blind, and with its mouth open, anxiously expecting gave directions that no person should en-its breakfast, which was quickly brought ter the room, lest they might be disturbed. by one of the old birds, who made a rapid In a little time, I had the satisfaction to flight up and down the street, and secured see one of the parent birds return, and, a prize insect as a reward. The remaining after much fluttering about and cautious little ones were transferred in the course approaches eventually bring them some of the day. But, on the following day, food (insects).

my servant brought one of them to me In an hour after, I found the old birds dead. I suppose it fell from the nest, as busily engaged repairing the nest, using in the wall was very low. The old birds this instance the material composing the continued to repair the nest until the abandoned vest, which they carefully broke aperture was reduced to a small semicircuup, and carried in small pieces to the lar opening through which a lady's hand street, rolling the little pellets in the mud,' might, pass; and for a considerable time

one of the old birds remained continually the borders of little princes. The wrongs in the nest.

of the Jews of Roumania have also attr ctIn abont three weeks after the restora- ed the notice, and received the condemna. tion of the nest, I observed, one morning, tion, of the Imperial Parliament of Gerthe old birds very busy about the nest; many; and although the Committee to and having concealed myself from sight, I which the matter was first referred counobserved a parent bird take one of the selled prudence, and strongly hinted at young ones on his back, and fly a short the folly of interfering in the internal afdistance off — not more than a yard — and fairs of foreign countrie , yet the Chamber return with his charge to the nest. was not to be restrained, but vindicated the other parent bird being always in close its right to take cognizance of the victims attendance, and assisting in the interesting of Roumanian bigotry on the ground that ceremony. In a few days more, I ob- Roumania was under the guarantee of the served the parent bird take the young one great Powers, or at least was indebted to on his back to the street, and let it fly of them for its separate political existence, its own accord, but always accompanied and that Germany was entitled to see that by both parents, one being in front, and it was not disgraced by the acts of those the other immediately under the young- whom it had been a party to entrusting ster. In this way the little ones were ex- with the power they abused. It is obvions ercised alternately, principally in the early that if Germany is to remonstrate on this morning, when the street was compara- ground, it may add interference to remontively quiet. As the season advanced, the strance, and then a collision with Russia flights became longer and both the little might easily begin. If either Russia or ones were taken out together, the noise Germany wished to stir up the Da'iubian occasioned by their delight and the in question neither would have any difficulty structions of the old birds being consid- in doing so; and all that can be said is erable. Eventually, the quartet proceeded that for the moment the Governments of on country excursions, sometimes not re- the two countries are desirous that everyturning for a couple of days. Ultimately, thing shall be kept as quiet as possible. I received a visit of longer duration from Prince Bismarck lately refused to offer any one of the old birds and the two young- opinion on the Sultan's proposal to make a sters. I began to fear an accident had oc- change in the line of Turkish succession, curred to the other parent. But in about on the ground that Germany did not conthree weeks, he joined the party again, cern itself with Eastern questions; while, and took them off. Before leaving, they on the other hand, it was noticed that the completly closed up the entrance to the Russian journals which ordinarily stimulate nest; and I fondly hope to receive a visit the Roumanians and Servianš into the from my feathered tenants next spring. course of danger and offence have lately

been entirely silent as to the proceedings of those badly behaved little countries. Still it must always be kept in mind, when

Germany is under discussion, that she has From The Saturday Review. perpetually three causes of anxiety, the GERMANY

pressure of which may be now less and now The East of Europe is always just enough greater, but never ceases altogether. She disturbed to keep Germany on the alert, has to think of the Danube and Russia, of although it is at present quiet enough to France, and of the Papacy. Fortunately let the attention of Germans remain con- for her, she is encountering the last of centrated on their great struggle with these three hostile influences just at a motheir ecclesiastical enemies. The hot ashes ment when she is under remarkably little of discord are always slumbering under a anxiety about the other two; and it may very thin covering of earth in the wild re- be that so evident a fact will strike her gions which border the Lower Danube, present adversaries as not unimportant, and peace only prevails because the great and that they will try to compromise matPowers choose that it shall prevail. The ters for the present, and let things go on Emperor of Austria has lately been making without any open rupture until a more a tour in his remote South-Eastern prov- favourable crisis arises, and either France inces, and Germans have noticed with some or Russia is beginning to give Germany indignation that the petty sovereigns of serious trouble. Meanwhile the German Roumania and Servia have not paid bin Government seems determined to show that any of the attention which custom pre- it is not afraid of Rome, and that if the scribes when so great a person comes near State is challenged by the Church, the