254 ADVENTUllKS OF A NAVAL OFFICKR 



just putting on (having well admired them for half an hour) a pair 

 of new epaulettes. Out of this pleasant trance, I was awoke to par- 

 take of a farewell breakfast, the last certainly for three years per- 

 haps for ever. All was ready : the hall that for the last fortnight had 

 been crowded with packages, to the danger of the shins of all such 

 adventurous persons as crossed it incautiously, was now clear. The 

 postillion shewed evident signs of impatience. I delayed as long as 

 possible: at last, in I jumped. "God bless you, my boy! write 

 directly you arrive at Chatham/' The chaise door was closed, 

 the postillion smacked his whip, hurrah ! away we went, as I 

 thought, at a most unfeeling pace. I should have had a much better 

 opinion of the fellow, had he gone at a gentler pace; but there was 

 no help for it. We were soon on Blackheath home was out of 

 sight. I was alone in the world for the first time. Several times was 

 I tempted to put my head out of the window, and tell the postillion 

 to return, give up the sea, and live among those friends I so dearly 

 loved ; but ever, as I put my hand up to let the window down, be- 

 held before me the hated form of my old schoolmaster, birch in hand, 

 pointing to a Virgil or Gradus ad Parnassum. I shrunk back, deter- 

 mined to brave every thing rather than again fall into his clutches ; 

 and then the laughter of all my friends : it would not do. So I threw 

 myself back in the carriage, and cried myself to sleep. 



" Will you get out here, Sir ?" said the postillion, opening the 

 door, and shaking me by the arm 

 " Out ! what where am I ?" 



" Come, Sir, we are going to change horses here ; you had better 

 get out, and go into the inn, and I will call you when I am ready." 



" Is there any body in that chaise?" said the landlord of the Bull 

 Inn, Dartford, advancing as fast as a pair of very short legs, and 

 an enormous belly would allow him. 



" Ah ! it's you, is it Mr. Mortyr ? very glad to see you, sir ; how 

 is your father ? wo'nt you come in, and take some refreshments ?" 



I alighted, and was ushered into the very best parlour of the very 

 best inn in Dartford. 



" What will you take ?" said the landlady, who had followed her 

 obedient husband into the room. 



" Any thing you like ; I've a terrible head-ache-" 

 " Shall I make you a little tea, sir." 



" Thank you, yes ;" and away went my hostess of the tavern, to 

 prepare her best *Bohea, and left me to think of the past and the pre- 

 sent. I had cried so much lately, that I verily believe the fountain 

 of my tears was dry ; so I sat down to think calmly (that is as calmly 

 as a boy of thirteen can) what I had done, and what I was likely to 

 do ; and then, like Hamlet, Cato, and other great heroes, I began to 

 soliloquize : 



" I have left a comfortable home to enter what at best is but an un- 

 comfortable profession ;" and here I looked very sad. " True," said 

 I ; " but I have left school, am now an officer, have got ten pounds in 

 my pocket, and nobody to controul me." Here ended my soliloquy ; 

 perfectly convinced that I had done one of the wisest actions that had 

 ever been heard of; and then continuing my soliloquy. "As to the 



