THK STKAM EXCURSION. 36*9 



steam consequent on the stopping of a vessel was seldom attended 

 with any great losf of human life. 



Two men ran to the side, and after a good deal of shouting, and 

 swearing, and angling for the wherry with a boat-hook, Mr. Fleet- 

 wood, and Mrs. Fleetwood, and Master Fleetwood ; and Mr. Wake- 

 field, and Mrs, Wakefield, and Miss Wakefield were safely deposited 

 on the deck. The girl was about six years old ; the boy about 

 four ; the former was dressed in a white frock with a pink sash, and 

 a dog's-eared looking little spencer, a straw bonnet, and green veil, 

 six inches by three and a half; the latter was attired for the occasion 

 in a nankeen frock, between the bottom of which and the top of his 

 plaid socks a considerable portion of two small mottled legs was dis- 

 cernible. He had a light blue cap with a gold band and tassel on his 

 head, and a damp piece of gingerbread in his hand, with which he 

 had slightly embossed his dear little countenance. 



The boat once more started off; the band played " Off she goes," 

 the major part of the company conversed cheerfully in groups, and 

 the old gentlemen walked up and down the deck in pairs, as perse- 

 veringly and gravely as if they were doing a match against time for 

 an immense stake. They ran briskly down the pool ; the gentlemen 

 pointed out the Docks, the Thames' Police-office, and other elegant 

 public edifices ; and the young ladies exhibited a proper display of 

 horror and bashfulness at the appearance of the coal-whippers, and 

 ballast-heavers. Mr. Hardy told stories to the married ladies, at 

 which they laughed very much in their pocket-handkerchiefs ; and 

 hit him on the knuckles with their fans, declaring him to be "a 

 naughty man a shocking creature " and so forth ; and Captain 

 Helves gave slight descriptions of battles and duels, with a most 

 bloodthirsty air, which made him the admiration of the women, and 

 the envy of the men. Quadrilling commenced ; Captain Helves 

 danced one set with Miss Emily Taunton, and another set with Miss 

 Sophia Taunton. Mrs. Taunton was in ecstacies. The victory ap- 

 peared to be complete ; but, alas ! the inconstancy of man having 

 performed this necessary duty, he attached himself solely to Mis3 

 Julia Briggs, with whom he danced no less than three sets consecu- 

 tively, and from whose side he evinced no intention ,of stirring for 

 the remainder of the day. 



Mr. Hardy having played one or two very brilliant fantasias on 

 the Jew's harp, and having frequently repeated the exquisitely amus- 

 ing joke of slily chalking a large cross on the back of some member 

 of the committee, Mr. Percy Noakes expressed his hope that some of 

 their musical friends would oblige the company by a display of their 

 abilities. 



" Perhaps," he said in a very insinuating manner, " Captain Helves 

 will oblige us." Mrs. Taunton' s countenance lightened up, for the 

 captain only sang duets, and couldn't sing them with anybody but 

 one of her daughters. 



"Really," said that warlike individual, " 1 should be very happy, 

 but " 



" Oh ! pray do," cried all the young ladies. 



" Miss Sophia, have you any objection to join in a duet ?" 



