In half an hour we found ourselves on shore on Cornwallis Island, as I afterwards learned, and the sea made a fair breach over us.  This sobered the lieutenant and his officers; and as the tide fell, we found ourselves high and dry.  The vessel fell over on her side, and I walked on shore, determined to trust myself no more with such a set of beasts.  Boats came down from the dockyard at daylight, and took me and some others who had followed my example, together with our luggage, to the flag-ship.  After two days’ hard labour, the vessel was got off, and brought into the harbour.  The admiral was informed of the whole transaction, and one of the captains advised him to try the lieutenant by a court-martial, or, at least, to turn him out of the vessel, and send him home.  Unfortunately, he would not follow this advice, but sent him to sea again, with despatches.  It was known that all hands were drunk on quitting the port; and the vessel ran upon a reef of rocks called the Sisters, where she sank, and every soul perished.  Her mast-heads were seen just above water the next morning.

The frigate I was to join, came into harbour soon after I reached Halifax.  This I was sorry for, as I found myself in very good quarters.  I had letters of introduction to the best families.  The place is proverbial for hospitality; and the society of the young ladies, who are both virtuous and lovely, tended in some degree to reform and polish the rough and libertine manners which I had contracted in my career.  I had many sweethearts; but they were more like Emily than Eugenia.  I was a great flirt among them, and would willingly have spent more time in their company; but my fate or fortune was to be accomplished, and I went on board the frigate, where I presented my introductory letters to the nobleman who commanded her.  I expected to have seen an effeminate young man, much too refined to learn his business; but I was mistaken.  Lord Edward was a sailor every inch of him:  he knew a ship from stem to stern, understood the characters of seamen, and gained their confidence.  He was, besides, a good mechanic—­a carpenter, rope-maker, sail-maker, and cooper.  He could hand, reef, and steer, knot and splice; but he was no orator:  he read little, and spoke less.  He was a man of no show.  He was good-tempered, honest, and unsophisticated, with a large proportion of common sense.  He was good-humoured and free with his officers; though, if offended he was violent but soon calm again; nor could you ever perceive any assumption of consequence from his title of nobility.  He was pleased with my expertness in practical seamanship; and before we left the harbour, I became a great favourite.  This I took care to improve, as I liked him both for himself and his good qualities, independently of the advantages of being on good terms with the captain.