“Nay, dear mamma,” said George; “your expectations are raised too high.  My paper only contains an account of a Yarmouth boatman; but it interested me:  and Yarmouth being a seaport on the shores of the German Ocean, I thought it would be an agreeable termination to this part of our voyage, and I took the trouble to put it into a moderate compass for the occasion.”  George then unfolded two or three sheets of closely written paper, while he enjoyed the amazed looks of his sister; and so pleased was he at her expressions of astonishment, that he was unable to resist the impulse of throwing his arms around her neck, and kissing her affectionately.  “You are surprised, dear Emma,” said he; “I only cared to please you when I wrote it, but now I will try to please all” He then, in a clear distinct tone of voice read the following:—­

#Narrative of Brock the Swimmer and Yarmouth Boatman.#

“Amongst the sons of labor, there are none more deserving of their hard earnings than that class of persons, denominated Beachmen, on the shores of this kingdom.  To those unacquainted with maritime affairs, it may be as well to observe, that these men are bred to the sea from their earliest infancy, are employed in the summer months very frequently as regular sailors or fishermen, and during the autumn, winter, and spring, when gales are most frequent on our coast, in going off in boats to vessels in distress in all weathers, to the imminent risk of their lives; fishing up lost anchors and cables, and looking out for waifs (i.e. anything abandoned or wrecked), which the winds and waves may have cast in their way.  In our seaports these persons are usually divided into companies, between whom the greatest rivalry exists in regard to the beauty and swiftness of their boats, and their dexterity in managing them:  this too often leads to feats of the greatest daring, which the widow and the orphan have long to deplore.  To one of these companies, known by the name of ‘Laytons,’ whose rendezvous and ‘look-out’ were close to Yarmouth jetty, Brock belonged; and in pursuit of his calling, the following event is recorded by an acquaintance of Brock’s.

“About 1 P.M. on the 6th of October, 1835, a vessel was observed at sea from this station with a signal flying for a pilot, bearing east distant about twelve miles:  in a space of time incredible to those who have not witnessed the launching of a large boat on a like occasion, the yawl, ‘Increase,’ eighteen tons burden, belonging to Laytons’ gang, with ten men and a London Branch pilot, was under weigh, steering for the object of their enterprise.  About 4 o’clock she came up with the vessel, which proved to be a Spanish brig, Paquette de Bilboa, laden with a general cargo, and bound from Hamburg to Cadiz, leaky, and both pumps at work.  After a great deal of chaffering in regard to the amount of salvage, and some little altercation with part of the boat’s crew as to which of them should