We have no intention of entering minutely upon his conduct in this office, which has nothing to do with his character as a wit.  There are a thousand and one reasons for believing him guilty of the charges brought against him, and a thousand and one for supposing him guiltless.  Here was a young man, gay, jovial, given to society entirely, and not at all to arithmetic, put into a very trying and awkward position—­native clerks who would cheat if they could, English governors who would find fault if they could, a disturbed treasury, an awkward currency, liars for witnesses, and undeniable evidence of defalcation.  In a word, an examination was made into the state of the treasury of the island, and a large deficit found.  It remained to trace it home to its original author.

Hook had not acquired the best character in the island.  Those who know the official dignity of a small British colony can well understand how his pleasantries must have shocked those worthy big-wigs who, exalted from Pump Court, Temple, or Paradise Row, Old Brompton, to places of honour and high salaries, rode their high horses with twice the exclusiveness of those ‘to the manner born.’  For instance, Hook was once, by a mere chance, obliged to take the chair at an official dinner, on which occasion the toasts proposed by the chairman were to be accompanied by a salute from guns without.  Hook went through the list, and seemed to enjoy toast-drinking so much that he was quite sorry to have come to the end of it, and continued, as if still from the list, to propose successively the health of each officer present.  The gunners were growing quite weary, but having their orders, dared not complain.  Hook was delighted, and went on to the amazement and amusement of all who were not tired of the noise, each youthful sub, taken by surprise, being quite gratified at the honour done him.  At last there was no one left to toast; but the wine had taken effect, and Hook, amid roars of laughter inside, and roars of savage artillery without, proposed the health of the waiter who had so ably officiated.  This done, he bethought him of the cook, who was sent for to return thanks; but the artillery officer had by this time got wind of the affair, and feeling that more than enough powder had been wasted on the health of gentlemen who were determined to destroy it by the number of their potations, took on himself the responsibility of ordering the gunners to stop.

On another occasion he incurred the displeasure of the governor, General Hall, by fighting a duel—­fortunately as harmless as that of Moore and Jeffrey—­

  ’When Little’s leadless pistol met his eye,
  And Bow-street myrmidons stood laughing by,’

as Byron says.  The governor was sensible enough to wish to put down the ‘Gothic appeal to arms,’ and was therefore the more irate.