I contrived to unbolt it again, and got out, when they laughed still more, at the seat of my trousers being torn off.  It was not exactly a laughing matter to me, although I had to congratulate myself upon a very lucky escape:  and so did my messmates think, when I narrated my adventures.  The pelican was the worst part of the business.  O’Brien lent me a dark silk handkerchief, which I tied round my waist, and let drop behind, so that my misfortunes might not attract any notice, and then we quitted the menagerie; but I was so stiff that I could scarcely walk.

SCOTCH “BLUID.”

We had a new messmate of the name of M’Foy.  I was on the quarter-deck when he came on board and presented a letter to the captain, inquiring first if his name was “Captain Sauvage.”  He was a florid young man nearly six feet high, with sandy hair, yet very good-looking.  As his career in the service was very short, I will tell at once what I did not find out till some time afterwards.  The captain had agreed to receive him to oblige a brother officer, who had retired from the service, and lived in the Highlands of Scotland.  The first notice which the captain had of the arrival of Mr. M’Foy, was from a letter written to him by the young man’s uncle.  This amused him so much, that he gave it to the first lieutenant to read.  It ran as follows;—­

Glasgow, April 25th, 1—–.

“Sir,

“Our much esteemed and mutual friend, Captain M’Alpine, having communicated by letter, dated the 14th inst., your kind intentions relative to my nephew Sholto M’Foy, (for which you will be pleased to accept my best thanks,) I write to acquaint you that he is now on his way to join your ship the Diomede, and will arrive, God willing, twenty-six hours after the receipt of this letter.

“As I have been given to understand by those who have some acquaintance with the service of the King, that his equipment as an officer will be somewhat expensive, I have considered it but fair to ease your mind as to any responsibility on that score, and have therefore enclosed the half of a Bank of England note for ten pounds sterling, No. 3742, the other half of which will be duly forwarded in a frank promised to me the day after tomorrow.  I beg you will make the necessary purchases, and apply the balance, should there be any, to his mess account, or any other expenses which you may consider warrantable or justifiable.

“It is at the same time proper to inform you, that Sholto had ten shillings in his pocket at the time of his leaving Glasgow; the satisfactory expenditure of which I have no doubt you will inquire into, as it is a large sum to be placed at the discretion of a youth only fourteen years and five months old.  I mention his age, as Sholto is so tall that you might be deceived by his appearance, and be induced to trust to his prudence in affairs of this serious nature.  Should he at any time require further assistance beyond his pay, which I am told is extremely handsome to all king’s officers, I beg you to consider that any draft of yours, at ten days’ sight, to the amount of five pounds sterling English, will be duly honoured by the firm of Monteith, M’Killop, and Company, of Glasgow.  Sir, with many thanks for your kindness and consideration,