“Pray, sir, what ship do you belong to?”

“Sir,” said I, proud to be thus interrogated, “I belong to His Majesty’s ship, the Le——­” (having a French name, I clapped on both the French and English articles, as being more impressive).

“Oh, you do, do you?” said the veteran with an air of conscious superiority; “then you will be so good as to turn round, go down to Mutton Cove, take a boat, and have your person conveyed with all possible speed on board of His Majesty’s ship the Lee” (imitating me); “and tell the first lieutenant it is my order that you be not allowed any more leave while the ship is in port; and I shall tell your captain he must teach his officers better manners than to pass the port-admiral without touching their hats.”

While this harangue was going on, I stood in a circle, of which I was the centre, and the admiral and the captains formed the circumference; what little air there was their bodies intercepted, so that I was not only in a stew, but stupefied into the bargain.

“There, sir, you hear me—­you may go.”

“Yes, I do hear you,” thinks I; “but how the devil am I to get away from you?” for the cruel captains, like school-boys round a rat-trap, stood so close that I could not start.  Fortunately, this my blockade, which they no doubt intended for their amusement, saved me for that time.  I recollected myself, and said, with affected simplicity of manner, that I had that morning put on my uniform for the first time; that I had never seen my captain, and never was on board a ship in all my life.  At this explanation, the countenance of the admiral relaxed into something that was meant for a smile, and the captains all burst into a loud laugh.

“Well, young man,” said the admiral—­who was really a good-tempered fellow, though an odd one—­“well, young man, since you have never been at sea, it is some excuse for not knowing good manners; there is no necessity now for delivering my message to the first lieutenant, but you may go on board your ship.”

Having seen me well-roasted, the captains opened right and left, and let me pass.  As I left them I heard one say, “Just caught—­marks of the dogs’ teeth in his heels, I warrant you.”  I did not stop to make any reply, but sneaked away, mortified and crest-fallen, and certainly obeyed this the first order which I had ever received in the service, with more exactness than I ever did any subsequent one.

During the remainder of my walk, I touched my hat to every one I met.  I conferred the honour of a salute on midshipmen, master’s mates, sergeants of marines, and two corporals.  Nor was I aware of my over complaisance, until a young woman, dressed like a lady, who knew more of the navy than I did, asked me if I had come down to stand for the borough?  Without knowing what she meant, I replied, “No.”

“I thought you might,” said she, “seeing you are so d——­d civil to everybody.”