Edinburgh by leaping on board of a boat, then patroling the streets on a wheeled carriage, nicely bedizened with flags, and flashy Jacks, in ribboned hats, and music, and plenty of stuff, and the devil knows all what. I don't remember what year it was -nor does it matter-I was a careless, merry, youngish fellow at that time, fully taller than I am now, and had what my grandmother used to call a bee in my bonnet. I recollect I pocketed the thirty guineas of bounty with a vast deal of pleasure,-commenced gentleman in a trice-carried on like a scapegrace while it lasted-drank the most of it; was robbed of the rest; and was then hurried on board the Martin tender, lying in Leith Roads, in a state something between the drunkard and the madman. Well, here I had ample leisure to come to my senses, while waiting for the completion of our live cargo, which was no sooner done than we sailed for the Nore, and were bundled on board of the Guardo. As I hated to be inactive, I soon grew tired of a guard-ship and volunteered as quickly as possible; so that before you'd have said Jack Robinson, there was I in the West Indies a-fighting with the Blackamoors, sometimes on shore, sometimes on board, along with Sir John Jervis,-he, I mean, we now call Earl St Vincent. Well, we had strange doings there for a great length of time, and as I was young, and stout, and healthy, and lived like a perfect fighting-cock, faith I can't say but I passed the best part of a couple of years there quite to my heart's wish. But this was too good to last for ever. We were ordered home, and were hardly in sight of St Helen's, when we were drafted on board the Queen Charlotte, and in her I fought out the 1st of June. I was on board of her during all the riot, and only left her to come to the Nore, by order of my officers-but more of this anon.-Well, time wore on-and troublesome times they were -for Boney was always a-talking of invading England, and kept us eternally on the alert. I assure you, my lad, the Channel in those days was the devil's own corner for bustle and business, and a turn-in for a whole watch was a thing which occurred but seldom. However, we

had always plenty of prize-money; for though we were seldom paid by our agents, by dint of our papers we used to lay Moses and his brother smouches under a constant contribution, and so contrived to have a little pleasure when we had the opportunity. But I'm wandering to leeward— Where was I-Oh, ay, I recollect -Well, by this time I'd been dubbed A. B. with about ninepence halfpenny a-day, and stationed on the forecastle

"I beg your pardon, matey," said Edward, interrupting him, "but you're away yet. We'll take your promotion and all that for granted. Rather tell me at what time you first observed any symptoms of dissatisfaction among the crew of the Charlotte-because, stationed as you were on the forecastle, and messing choak forward in the nose of her, you must have been very early apprised of anything of the kind."

"True, my lad, true," replied Adams; "but before I go any farther, Ned, just bring me up with a round turn, the same as you've done now, my boy, whenever I'm inclined to go off my regular course.--Well, to answer your question in few words, I think, as far as my memory serves me, it was about the end of 1796 I first saw any of them printed gear, as came from the shore, in the hands of any of my shipmates. Who sent them, or who the devil made them, I neither knows nor cares-neither does it matter-certain it is, that not only our ship, but the whole fleet, received large lots of them every other day; and I haven't a doubt but they had a main hand in kicking up all the riot that afterwards happened. I recollect well enough of reading two or three of 'em-but I soon got tired, for they told me nothing but what I already knew-though how to better myself I knew not-for as for kicking against the very thing that prickled me, why you know that was all in my eye.

"If you remember, Jack," said Edward, "I'd like to know what these printed affairs spoke about.

'Everything, matey," replied the veteran; "they generally commenced with telling what brave hardy fellows we were-how the country adored us-and such other blarney. Then out came what a d-d shame

it was that we had so little pay, when the soldiers, who did nothing, were getting so and so—what a pity it was that a parcel of rascals, such as our officers were, should fatten and grow rich, by cheating us out of the allow ance given us by our king and country that while the soldiers got furloughs to go to the far end of the kingdom, to see their wives and families, we were cooped up on board like a parcel of convicts; or at most, allowed a twenty-four hours' libertyticket to go on shore, while all the soldiers had orders to look after us, and even got three guineas reward for nabbing us when we overstretched the time. This and such like everyday stuff, was the eternal change they rung-shifted a little here and there but still ending in the same chime. Then, having set all your abominations in proper ship-shape before you, they generally tolled in with the usual blustering swagger of a long line-of-battle of questions, such as the asking us If we were men?'-As that could hardly be doubted, they then asked, 'Why we bent under, or allowed of such tyrannical doings! Had we not made our enemies tremble, and were not all our enemies who sought to make us, freeborn English men and Britons, slaves?'-and the whole would conclude with a strange rigmarole exhortation, generally taken from a song, such as- Now's the day and now's the hour!'-Britons strike home and such like.-Pshaw! I ever held them to be d-d mischievous trumpery; though I must confess 'twas not the case with the greater part of my shipmates, for they first set them all a-reading, and then they set them all a-grumbling-seeing they told many of 'em of rights they as yet knew nothing about-and laughed and sneered at the simplicity of men who thought themselves the cleverest fellows on God Almighty's waters."

complain of, and they were often complained of-but of what use was it, or what good did it do ?-You were certain, by way of redress, to be either hooted off the quarter-deck, laughed to scorn, or receive a good drubbing and, in good sooth, my lad, I can't say I was ever patriot enough to volunteer to undergo such a discipline. For instance now, for simple, common, everyday treatment, I can't say I ever could relish the being kicked for nothing by a mere boy, escaped from the school or the nursery, or even to be rope's-ended by the hobbledehoy hands of a young raw master's mate-far less did I relish the almost constant startings, running of gauntlets, playing of dumb-bells, and other ingenious arts of tormenting, which were then in fashion; and as for the almost daily practice of flogging, and particularly the too common one of keel-hauling, it shocked the whole fleet, and completely put my pipe out. D-n me, it was using men worse than the beasts that perish. As for our grub again, we had, no doubt, what the Purser called full twelve ounces to the pound of either flour or bread ;four ounces being kept back, he said, for the necessary waste attending the doling it out.-But God knows what he called his ounce-I believe it was one invented by himself-as it wasn't to be discovered in ever a Dilworth of the kingdom. And then for his liquor measures, why they were in the self-same mess; and, through the whole fleet, were larger or smaller just as the Purser loved money, or had a larger or smaller particle of conscience about him. Now, no doubt, the like of these things made us surly, and at times growl at him; but still you know he could very flatly tell us, we had our regular pound allowed us by Government, as well of our regular pint of grog; and why, if we wanted any more, we must apply to Government for it, not to him, for he could do nothing for us. The Captain and first Lieutenant sounded the same chime-ay, and sometimes accompa nied it with a d-d good thrashing, by way of mending the matter. Besides all this, we had to grow!, and we did growl, at several other minor matters, which all tended to impoverish us, poor devils, while it enriched no ne but the Captain, the Purser, and

the ship's agent. This was the irregular method they had at that time of paying ship's companies their wages, sometimes allowing three, four, and if out of the land, even seven years to run, before they received a cross of pay due them. This, of course, you know, was all in the Purser's favour-the men were compelled to take slops-and if they were great wearers-why when pay-day came they were often in the Purser's debt. This, however, as you may guess, did not occur often. Then there was no such thing as short allowance money--and if your grog was stopped, whether for punishment or sickness, it was never afterwards accounted for. -But the best of all was, that were you wounded, or in such bad health, as to be compelled to go to the hospital, you got no pay from the hour of leaving the ship until you was muster. ed again, and entered on her books by the Clerk of the Cheque. All these were grounds-and devilish good ones, for many bickerings, squabblings, and heart-burnings-but still, except a brush now and then, things went on pretty fairly until these printed gear came on board, and set all hands aspouting about rights and privileges. Then there was nothing but the devil to pay ;-meetings and committees, and delegates got quite in fashion; and really and truly it was imposible for a fellow with the spirit of a cockle to stand neutral on the occasion. As I told you before, I cared little about those printed gear, because they told me nothing but what I already knew-but 'twas not the case with my shipmates-they were completely converted by them, and were very generally seized with the mania of reform; of course the petitions for redress to the officers were multiplied out of number, and, as usual, the petitioners were scouted or kicked for their pains. Now, my dear soul, I believe I am stating the matter as fairly as a poor old fellow can do, when I frankly say, that our officers did wrong in treating the ships' companies in such a lousy manner, when they came respectfully forward and petitioned for a redress of some of these grievances; and I will be also bold to say, that in my conscience I think it was this unkind and even barbarous treatment, combined with the paltry pay, and other disagreeable

comparisons between them and the military which these printed gear put into their heads, that drove disagreements to such a height, or first gave us the idea of pushing matters to a head at all risks in the manner we did.Well, my lad, finding we could make nothing but abuse and ill usage out of our own officers, we resolved to attack their betters, and accordingly sent about a dozen of nameless petitions to the post-house, some to one Ral and some to another, not forgetting old 1st of June, nor the Lords Admirals themselves. But being in no one's name, d'ye see, they cared nothing about them, and we were as wise as ever. Well, on this we had a meeting on the main deck, (for by this time, my lad, we cared not a straw for our officers, any more than they did for us,) when I got up and spouted a while as well as I could, telling them, 'twas all in my eye the sending ashore such half-done work, -that if they wished any attention to be paid to their demands, there was nothing like fair, even-down thump work for it-and that if they would take my way on't, they should once more make out the petitions, get them signed in the round-robin fashion, and send them off to the Admiral of the fleet at once, and such other nabs as they thought proper, telling them plumply and plainly, that if they would'nt comply with our demands, we wouldn't comply with theirs. Well, all this was agreed to, and I was appointed one of a committee that was to see it done; so that the moment the petitions were ready and signed by a number of our firstrate hands, we went through the fleet and got all to sign them in the same manner, then despatched them ashore. But, God bless you, what a devil of a nitty they did kick up!-why, there was nothing but yard-arms, and shooting, and walking the plank spoken of. Every rumour that came from the shore that day was worse than the other; and upon my soul, Ned, I will candidly confess to you that I did not altogether lie on a bed of roses that night. Next day, while we were considering what was to be done, who should burst in upon us but old Lock, our captain, absolutely foaming with rage. He abused us all in the most violent manner, struck all around him, and behaved so like

a madman, that we manned a boat, and turned him ashore, there to come to his senses at leisure. Well, we were still waiting very patiently for an answer of some one kind or other, when who should board us but that madcap of an old woman, Admiral Gardner, a fellow that never did anything worth mentioning,—and he made matters a great deal worse."

"Pshaw, pshaw, mate," loudly interrupted Edward, "that will never go down. Admiral Gardner was never an old woman in his born life-but the very reverse. Doesn't think, my old boy, but I've heard before now of the old Queen he was aboard on? Ay, that I have, and often, matey ;-and, more than that, every one as spoke of her always said and swore, that she played the best stick on the first of June of the whole fleet, not excepting your great Charlotte herself.”

Why, who the devil disputes that, Davies?" cried the old man with eagerness. "I know as well as any one that the old Queen fought on that glorious day like a very devil, and went through and through the French line like a flaming evil spirit. But what then, my lad?-You'll please to recollect, that she wasn't fought on that occasion by Admiral Gardnerno, nor ever a Gardner in the fleet. It was honest old Hutt that fought her -as fine a fellow as ever trod a quarter-deck-and he lost both leg and thigh on the occasion, and died, brave heart, coming home.-No, no, Davies, depend on't that I tell you truth when I say, that little credit goes to the Admiral for that day's work, as well as many others who shall be nameless."

"Well, well, Jack," continued Edward, "all that may be true. But as to Captain Hutt, you know, that was his bad luck, poor fellow, and no fault of the Admiral's; for certainly, lad, that doesn't make out yet what you say."

"Bah, d-n him, I do not like him, that's flat!" cried the old man impatiently;" he's a proud, haughty, fiery hothead!-He has no patience in the world, and, when once fairly roused, will neither listen to rhyme nor reason, but right or wrong, up fist and down with you.-Blast him! -I'll not forget in a hurry what a devilish good thrashing he served me out one day I were keeping holiday VOL. XIX.

on board his hooker, and all for a mere nothing."

"Oho!-Jack, I see it now, my hearty," cried Edward smiling; "and so he gave you a thrashing, did he? -Ah, well, that makes the matter somewhat clearer than mud, and sufficiently accounts for your very handsome epithet.-You may now proceed-pray how did he come to make matters worse?"

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Why, you must know, my dear fellow," continued the old man, somewhat mortified, "that by way of striking a salutary terror into these gentry, we had lashed a block on the yard's arm, and rove a rope through it, which was made fast to the fore rigging. On seeing this he lost temper completely, and cursed and swore, and strutted and capered about the deck like a monkey in a china shop.-'Whew! for himself, he didn't give a single d-n for the whole of us-he would stand under the yard-arm rope and defy us all-We sailors!-that was a lie-we were a parcel of d-d lubberly lousy tailors-mutinous scoundrels, that deserved to be sabred into dog's meat.'

and in this manner he went on abusing us until his wind failed him. This was rather overdoing the thing; and accordingly some of our spinks certainly did return his fire with language of a similar description. I stood silent, watching the progress of this war of words; at last, apprehensive of the worst of consequences, I went up to the Admiral, and taking him by the hand, I requested that he would be so good as withdraw while there was anything like good manners remaining. I then conducted him to the gangway, and saw him into his boat, which he entered amid the hootings and hissings of the whole ship's company. Now, would you believe it, this very man had been ordered on board for the purpose of giving us our answer-and certainly a pretty answer we had to expect which was begun in such elegant language. No time was therefore lost, and the signal for a council of delegates was immediately hoisted. They came directly on board and had a consultation, when it was determined to adopt such measures as should secure the delegates from any surprise. I was therefore dispatched to the Admiral's ship, the Royal George, with orders from the council to haul down the Admi

Y

ral's flag, and hoist the red flag in its stead-being a signal for every ship to send a boat manned and armed for the protection of the court of delegates on board the Queen Charlotte. The Captain of the Royal George, indeed, did make some resistance to this, and swore he would be d-d ere such a flag should be hoisted without the Admiral's permission; but his objections were soon over-ruled, and the flag was hoisted. While I staid there a-telling of them how Gardner had behaved on board the Charlotte, who should come alongside but his Lordship himself along with Admiral Pole-a real good fellow-to demand, forsooth, what was the meaning of the red flag, which was flying at the fore-topmast-head? -He had asked the question three times without a single soul giving him a word of answer; when at last a fellow mustering up courage, went forward to the gangway, and told his Lordship the ship's company wished to have nothing to say to him; but as for Admiral Pole, if he chose to step on board, the ship's company would gladly hear what he had to tell them. The good fellow immediately complied, and the whole business was put to rights in a twinkling. The moment he came on board, and all hands gathered round him, he mildly said, 'What do you mean, my lads, by hoisting of signals now, when Admiral Gardner has already told you that your petition is accepted and will be complied with?'

cried I, grasping the good soul by the hand, which I shook heartily, I assure you. This is indeed the best news we've had these many months; and I've no doubt will allay all our ill-nature and restore us to a good understanding again. I'll go on board directly, my Lord, and execute your commission before the council breaks up.-Signalman, bring me a white flag instantly."

"What are you going to do with a white flag, my good fellow?' inquired his Lordship.

"Why, my Lord,' cried I, 'I'm so d-d happy, that I shall not only carry a white flag, but I believe I shall have a band of music with me also, to do honour to your Lordship's message.-Tomlins,' cried I to the quartermaster who had first spoken, 'muster me up your band if you please— by Jupiter, this is not an ordinary occasion.'

"You are a strange fellow,' said the Admiral, smiling, but I hope you'll not forget what I've told you ?'

"Never fear, my Lord,' cried I, 'it will give too much pleasure to be easily forgotten.'

"Do then hasten on board, like a good boy, while your what-d'ye-callit is sitting," said his Lordship ;'for you know the sooner a story of this kind is settled 'tis so much the better.'

"I gave his Lordship a sea bow, and he retired to his boat, and rowed off.

"Now come, my jolly hearts,' cried I, who will volunteer to go on board the Charlotte with me with the happy news? They shall have plenty of fun and oceans of grog. By the Lord, I'm half crazy with joy-so let me be off.-Come, Tomlins; d—n it, at least you must go-for you got the message as well as I.-Come, my jolly warblers, are you all in there-Ay, that's right-Come, let's aboard, old boy.'

"Shall I haul down the red, Adams?' inquired the signalman.

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No, no, my lad,' said I, 'you had better wait the council's orders about that affair. I'll tell you what, I'll ask about it as soon's I get on board, and if you are to haul it down, you'll know by the union being bent on the fore-yard's-arm rope. D-n me, better to hang the union, than one of its jolly subjects.-Come along, Tomlins.'