ously they may enforce discipline in ropes, which the top-men bay hold of, their own vessels, as it partially infrin- and by dragging the stone to and from ges on their personal freedom, is al- one another, in the manner of a saw, on ways deemed a grievance highly irk- the sanded deck, they thereby give it some and disagreeable ; and if they a smoothness and a whiteness which can, by dint of a little overstrained the most zealous scrubbing could neexertion, escape to sea, from this un- ver accomplish. Small hand-stones popular etiquette, a day or two sooner, are used for those corners which the the task is always enforced with the large ones cannot act upon; and, as in most unrelenting rigour.

using them, a poor wight must get A short time, therefore, saw the down on his bare marrow-bones, amid Tottumfog's masts on end ready for the wet and filth, they have long been sea, and a few days more brought her known by the cant name of Bibles sailing orders, by which her ship’s a term which, by the bye, we would company heard, greatly to the satis- remark en passant, is rather inauspicifaction of our hero, that her destina- ous to the high hopes of those very tion was the North Sea, with her zealous and respectable individuals head-quarters at Leith Roads. who augur so much good from a pro

The day previous to sailing was ex- fuse distribution of the Sacred Volume pected by all to be one of great cere- throughout the fleet, since every thomony, which, in the version of the na- rough-bred man-of-war's man must vy, is another name for one ushered in naturally attach to the latter a large by excessive hard work; for it seems, portion of that wicked wit, and thowhispers had escaped from that grand rough contempt, which he invariably focus of internal politics, the captain's feels for the former. The decks besteward's cabin, that his worship was ing therefore well holy-stoned, are to be early on board—the clerk of the once more rinced with a profusion of cheque meaning to muster the ship's buckets of water, to carry off the sand, company. Accordingly, shortly after then carefully dried up with swabs, day-break, they were roused by the and the work is completed. boatswain and his mates piping All As soon as the decks were finished, hands uhoy! Having turned out, and and top-gallant yards sent aloft, the resigned their hammocks to the cap- yards were carefully squared, the foretains of the tops, who were vying with top-sail let go, a gun was fired, and each other in their neatness of stow- blue Peter hoisted—the usual signal age, the holy-stones were produced, for sailing ; all which being accomand to it they went, a-polishing the plished, the first Lieutenant now ordecks for a series of hours. As some dered all hands to clean themselves, of our readers may not entirely com- and the breakfast to be piped. prehend the meaning of this phrase, a At two bells, (nine o'clock) the few words of explanation may not be boatswain's pipe announced the arriunacceptable. These stones have ac- val of the Captain ; and Edward, eager quired the term holy, we believe, from to behold his future commander, hurthe circumstance of their being used ried on deck. From the very first in almost every vessel of war at least good look he got of him, however, he once a-week--that selected morning disliked him; and it must be confessbeing generally Sunday; when a good ed, that even his best friends acknowdeal of extra scrubbing is gonethrough, ledged, that Captain Switchem's apprevious to the word being passed for pearance was by no means prepossessall hands to clean and dress themselves ing. He was a tall, meagre man, apfor muster and prayers. The manner parently about forty years of age-of of using them, again, is simply this :- a grave, and rather severe cast of counThe decks being first well rinced with tenance, whose whole figure bore all water drawn from the sides, and the external marks of severe exhauspretty liberally sprinkled over with tion, from a tropical climate. Yet, sand, the holy-stones are next brought though his form had an emaciated apforward, and are large flat stones, pearance, and his features came under from 112 to 130 pounds weight-of a the description of cadaverous, he had soft, smooth bottom, with two iron a strong, keen eye, and a custom of rings sunk into their upper surface, shewing, in his rapid way of speaking, from which are appended two hand- a finely-formed, excellent set of teeth,

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which gave a certain cynical anima. But always bear in mind, my lads, that tion to his manner, altogether over- this great indulgence I will only allow whelming and unpleasing. While Ed- to good steady men in harbour; for no ward was coolly revolving in his mind person whatever shall escape the most the apparent accuracy of the reported rigorous punishment I can think of at character of his commander, to the li- sea. ving figure before him, the clerk of “ Now, my lads, although I know the cheque came on board, and the that it is not common for officers like boatswain immediately piped All hands me, commanding his Majesty's vessels to muster, hoy!

of war, to condescend to explain to their No sooner was the clerk gone, than crew their motives for either. this or the Captain, ordering all hands aft the that punishment, I will yet be so homainmast, took his station at the cap- nest with you as to tell you, that I stan, and began the following speech:- have very weighty reasons for punish“ It has pleased the Lords Commis- ing both these crimes severely. We sioners of the Admiralty, my lads, to sail to-morrow, please God, for the bestow the command of this hooker on North Sea station ; and when you me; and as we are to be together in know that it is one which requires the future, I hope we shall agree well, and utmost steadiness, good conduct, and be good friends. I must, however, say, sobriety, both from the variableness of that I am determined to have nothing the climate, and the intricacy of its from you but strict, steady, good dis- occasional navigation, I am certain you cipline. I hold in my hands the Arti- cannot fail of perceiving my reasons cles of War, which are to be, in future, for the punishment of drunkenness ; the rules of every man's conduct; and since it principally proceeds on a deit shall be my fault if they are not termination I have long ago formed, strictly enforced; but as most of you that every man, while God grants him already know them, I shall refrain health, shall always keep himself in a from reading them at this time, cer- state fit for duty, and not trundle his tain as I am, that those among you labour on the shoulders of some other who have never heard them, will, very poor fellow, who has no manner of bulikely, think they hear them soon siness with it; while he, forsooth, is enough. Two things, however, I must either pigging it below, under his mention ; for, by the sacred Power mess-table, or else scampering the that made me, I am determined to en- decks like a fool and a madman, creforce them with the utmost strictness, ating confusion, disorder, and mutiny and to punish all aggressors without wherever he comes. Again, when you mercy. The first of these things is, I recollect how very short most of you never will forgive a thief ; and the se- are in the necessary rigging for a North cond, I never will forgive a drunkard. Sea winter, you certainly can neither Now, pay attention, my lads; I say I think me harsh nor cruel, in severely never will forgive e'er a one of you who punishing the scoundrel who would turns out to be either a thief or a deprive e'er a one of you of the most drunkard. No-so help me God, I trilling article of wearing apparel. I will punish a thief in the severest man- would ill perform my own duty were ner wherever I catch him ; ay, though I to do otherwise ; and it's a long look I should leave my cott, and burn an forward before pay-day appears, inch of candle at it. Regarding drunk- “ You now know my mind, my enness, my lads, I will take another lads, on the two principal points I ever way. You all know it to be a low, lub- mean to quarrel with you on. berly, beastly crime, to which, God going on shore to take leave of my knows, we are all liable enough at friends; and as some of your old times ; I mean, therefore, to make messmates may wish to see you before this one exception to its universal pu- we go, I mean you all to be as merry nishment. If it is committed by any as myself; and I shall aceordingly one of you, while we are in harbour, leave orders for you to receive a double I pledge you my honour, I will be at allowance of grog to-day, with which some pains in considering the offend- you may drink his Majesty's health, er's general character ; and, as he per- and a good cruize to us- --if you

have forms his duty at sea, so shall he have any left after that is done, you may every reasonable allowance given him. add my health, and the rest of your

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officers. Good bye t'ye - be merry, devil else could he mean, I should like but be wise. Boatswain's mate, pipe for to know, by beastly but lousy? down."

O ho! my smart fellows, don't you be The whistles were instantly blown, after picking me up before I fall; nor and the ship's company dispersed in don't you go for to think that I've forhigh spirits.

got what my old messmate, honest Side, boys,” bawled the quarter- Dan Colfin of the Majestic, used to master-attend the side.” The Cap- say.-Ay, he was the lad for my motain, after some further private con- ney, either fore or aft, thof he was a versation with his first Lieutenant, at Scotchman !-and I'm sure he was a last made his farewell salute to all his great scholard, for I've heard all our officers; and again did the boatswain's officers say as much. Well, says Dan, pipe sound its long lengthened note Barnes, says he, whenever a fellow as his gig shoved off.

ealls you beast, or beastie-I think All was now impatience for the com- 'twas some such rigmarole phrase he mencement of the revels, and every used,-you may depend on't he means minute was fifty ere the dinner was that you are lousy, says he ;-so up piped. At length came the happy fist directly, says he, and knock the hour ; and at eating and drinking, lubber down.” with no duty to trouble him, who is “ Vy, I doesn't know but what you so happy as Jack, either ashore or on may be right, Barnes, a'ter all; that board'? 'It is no easy matter, indeed to there Scotch differing so much from convey to our readers even the smallest our good English, you knows.--But I idea of a man-of-war's 'tween-deck, say, maties, what if our old Gibby with all hands at dinner; for the long there should get himself malty of an loud jolly laugh, the merry catch and a’ternoon, as usual, when we're at cheering chorus--theshrill lively whis- sea ? -My eye! what a cod's squint tle, the ill-humoured boisterous squab- he'd turn up when the skipper would ble, and the growling deep-toned im- say to him, You are a low, lubberly, precation-all strike the astonished ear lousy swab, Gibby! Serjeant of maat the same moment with such a stun- rines, put that drunken beust in irons ! ning noise, that one would think, (Imitates.) Saul! ye may do sae, your “ IIell was broke loose,

honour ; but de’il a bone o' me's fi'. And all the devils were there."

Silence, you old sinner! you are con

tinually drunk, Gibby !-- Boatswain'sAs, however, the subject is not unapt mate, give him ad-d good starting! to a season of jollity and merriment You are worse than a pig, Gibby !like the present, and as we find it alto- give the scoundrel five dozen at least ! gether impossible to identify either the I wouldn't give five skips of a louse for speakers or choristers, where all are all you ever do, Gibby! d-n him, speaking and singing at once, we have send him through the fleet!" Here the only humbly to propose that any of our humble disciple of Matthews could readers, whether lady or gentleman, no longer hold out against the resistwhose curiosity may be so far excited, less vigour of his own wit, but readily are exceedingly welcome to take hold joined his messmates, who were conof our arm while we slowly take a vulsed with laughter. walk round the crowded deck, and “ I'se tell ye fat it is, Maister Lilnote down the living conversation as it lyeuk, or fat e'er's your name, if thou strikes the ear.

disna clap a stopper on that vile pota“ I say, Jack, what d'ye think of ta-trap o' yours, d-n me but I'se gie the skipper's speech ? How d'ye relish ye a clank ower the canopy sall mak yon whiinsy whamsy of his 'bout drunk your day-lights sparkle again, and syne at sea, and drunk in harbour, eh? we'll see how you'll like that, my lad.

“ Think! d-n me if I know what Fa the deyvel d’ye think's gaun to to think on't. Mayhap, taking a small stand your jaw, ye snuffle o' a creadrop of grog, when one can touch it, ture? Confound ye ! ye're just a very may be both lubberly and lousy - good sample o' a'the rest o'ye're d-d

" Lousy! why, Jack, he did'nt say Cockney dirt-aye yattering and yelplousy, man-he said beastly.” ing whan ye're eating, or whan ye've

Ay, that he did, Jack,- for Nat your nose close to the bread-bag !and I were close under his lee.” But bide ye a bit, my man-we're “Well, well, maties, and what the giun to a place where I'll maybe live

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to see a hantle o' that cleck o' yours way. Blast your day-lights, you lubta'en out of ye."

ber! if you make me spill this here "By my soul, you are right, Gibby, grog, but I'll dance your rascally ribs and Hollyoak's wrong. I believe we into powder.” shall see your calf country, my old Hollo ! you sodger, mind your boy, very soon.-I say, Mack, what well blacked pins, my boy, and don't d'ye think's the largest tree in Gibby's capsize the good stuff. country ?”

“ Number five !-Number five ! “0, how should I know. But what call number five below there !– Here, country d'ye call Gibby's ?"

my old mate, lay hold of the grog“Why, Shetland, to be sure.” kid ; the hatchway's so completely

“O! Shetland, is it—there I have choak-a-block with lobster-backs and you, matey, for many's the good glass barber's clerks, there's no getting down of grog I've had in Shetland. The big- but by the cable. gest tree that I know that grows in “ Come, come, heave a-head, old Shetland is, let me see, a large, tall, skulk-me-ever, and let me pass; our bushy, full-grown-cabbage ! almost mess is on fire, and here is the water." as high, by the hokey! as our grog- “Weel, sirs, and fat d'ye think o' kid there, ha, ha, ha!”

your fine Cockney now ;-ha, ha, ha! “Avast, avast there, Mack;-Pshaw! if I can keep frae laughing at it

. D-n you should'nt be so d-d witty on me, if the poor singit mumping cat Gibby's country, my lad, seeing you hasna lost his call; and now ye'll hae don't know how much you may be obliged to wait till a' the sodgers are beholden to it yet before you hop the saired before ye. Saul! the brat was twig. For my part, I'll only say that for starting me, sending me through the man that speaks glummishly of the fleet, and fiend kens a' fat; but, Gibby's country knows very little of in guid faith, if ye’re a' o' my mind, the North Sea - I'm certain they don't the devil a spoonfae o' grog should wet -eh, Gibby? But never mind, my his wuzen. old soul ; we'll very likely soon be in “ For shame, Gibby, to propose such at Bressay—won't we, Gibby? And a thing! I'll be d-if you'd speak then who knows but you'll tell little that way did you not expect to get a Ailsey to bring us plenty of murphies, few of these same spoonfulls, as you and eggs, and sott tack-Won't you, call 'em, whistled into your own muzmy pretty Gib? won't you, my heart zle. All the mess knows that it's not of oak?"

a trifle you'll stick at when a glass “Come, come, d-n your squeezing, of grog's in the wind—and how do Jack ; my banes are a' şair already you know but Davis may like the with your notisense, I declare.” stuff as well as yourself?"

Here the whistle blew, and Grog, “ O, blast him! give the fellow his ahoy! was bellowed down the hatch- grog; I wants none on’t, for my part, way. The sound was heard with a

Rather cob him, I say; for he had shout of joy; and away scampered the plenty of time, and knew well enough cooks of the various messes with their we had the first call." vessels to the grog-tub.

Avast, avast there, maties, here The mirth grew now both boisterous he comes. Come, Davis, hand round, and tumultuary; the very sight of my buck, for we're all in a state of the grog seemed to have the effect of mutiny here :-and I say, old Catheraising the animal spirits to a higher rine Street, tip Gibby a choaker at key; and so very zealously was the once, for he's swearing he'll grog you.” carousal commenced, every one in the (Chorus.) joy of his heart talking louder than « Nor never will I married be his neighbour, while ever and anon Until the day I die; the rude and boisterous chorus struck For the stormy winds and the raging sea the ear, that one would have thought Parted my love and me.” that young and old, in defiance of “ Well, well, maties, no more of every caution their captain had given that.-Come, Gibby, let's hear you them, were in full march to a state of give us a slice of your old pell the the most complete inebriety.

Bounty, that good old Spitzberger. I “Scaldings, matey ; scaldings ! – don't see why we should'nt be as merry Hollo, you fellow! keep that filthy as e’er a mess in the hooker on such a louse-preserver of yours out of my day as this.” VOL. XI.

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“O, Greenland is a cold countrie, Lord Nelson on the poop did stand, And seldom is seen the sun ;

With his spy-glass all in his hand ; The keen frost and snow continually blow, And all he said, as we push'd for the land, And the day-light never is done, Was, Steady, and Cheer up, ho !”

Brave boys,

“ Boatswain's mate! Boatswain's And the day-light never is done. mate ! Below, there! You marine, d'ye But ne'er a bone of me can sing now. hear, fellow"

« Sir.” a-days. It's far ower high for my auld pipe, although, nae doubt,we've

“ Call the boatswain's mate forward seen the day. But,

whisht !-ay, that's there, directly." something like the thing.–(Chorus) “Ay, ay, sir. Boatswain's mate!

Forward there ; pass the word for the Farewell, and adieu to your grand Spanish boatswain's mate.” ladies,

6 Hollo !” Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain,

“You're wanted on deck." For we've received orders to sail for Old England,

(Chorus.) But we hope in short time for to see you I wish your face I had never seen,

" The de'il pu' your twa black een, again.

You're but a proud and a saucy quean, Tut's! here's to the Tottumfog, and a' And I winna be your dearie, 0.” that's in her. May she soon nail a Up there, sweepers, and clear prize or twa, and then scud to Shet- away the deck! D’ye hear there, you land as she were driving to the wud- Murphy, Davis, and the whole boiling die; for, losh, maties, I'm gaun daft of you ! Come, come, no grumbling; to see our Ailie.”

it's of no use. Shoulder your brooms, “ Huzza ! well behaved, old Gibby and come over the deck as smartly's - ha, ha, ha!”

you like. Come, scud ! D’ye hear “ Í tells thee, Tuinmas, thee hast there ; fly, and be d-d to you !" goutten three tots already; how many

“ Well, my lads, as I were saying, wouldst thee ha' now?”

we had her by this time just two “What argufies that, my lad, when points abaft the beam" they wa’nt half full. Come, come, “You tie an earing, you swab ! I bouse me up another, matey--there's would not allow you to stand at my a good fellow-and I'll touch you up lee-wheel. a flashy stave :-(Chorus.).

“D-n me, if I don't think, some 0, the rose it is red and the violet is blue, how or other, that our skipper will And my heart, love, beats steady and con- turn out a tartar, good weight, after stant to you;

all. He's got a smacking sharp cut Then let it be early, late, or soon, the wind of his own, and I don't like I will enjoy my rose in June.”

his top-lights at all at all.” “ Dang it, Tummas ! that's always

Avast there, my hearty ; after me, thy way; but I won't be sung out of if you please. I say, maties, here's my grog by ere a one. I tells thee once bad luck to Bet of the jetty, and to all more, that I'se only the plush, and the rascally smouches and' humbugs that I be's entitled to, an't I now?

of Sheerness.”—(Chorus.) But, come, come, matey, thee needn't « Then we'll drink and be jolly, and drown be angry either there's another for

melancholy, thee.

Our spirits to cherish, our hopes, and our Angry!--no, no, I'm not angry, lives, my old ship. Here's smacking luck And we'll pay all our debts with a flying to you, my dear boy, and a fistful of foretop-sail, doubloons before you are many years And so bid adieu to our sweethearts and older. Angry, in faith !—it's a very

wives.” different story then, my hero !-If

« Pshaw! d-n the song !-hear ever you see Tom Sykes angry-that's me out, maties. Well, as I were sayreal savage, I mean I'd advise you ing, by this time we were all doubleas a friend to stand clear, matey– shotted, and were just going to give don't you go for to think that he's her another physicker~" been at Copenhagen and Trafalgar for

Ha, ha, ha! My eyes ! twig canny nothing.-(Chorus.)

Shields Neddy!- malty, by the Nor On the glorious the second of April, all lights !" at the doom of day,

“You lie, you land-crab !—I'll walk We unreefd all our topsails, and then ona seam with e’er a man of your mess. we bore away ;

By the powers, you may say it,