NAVAL REMINISCENCES. 659 



first captor, had not a party of military been at hand, by whom the 

 sentry was instantly bayonetted, and the remainder of the garrison, 

 who were advancing, driven back. Having now no competitors but 

 two dead men, he found little difficulty in appropriating the flag, 

 which he secured by wrapping it round his waist; and, in this way, 

 carrying it on board the vessel he belonged to, he presented it to his 

 captain. 



Charley was praised of course ; promotion was promised him if the 

 interest of the captain could procure it; and, altogether, he thought 

 himself a particularly lucky fellow. 



Some months after, the ship returned to the river, and, on an ap- 

 pointed day he was ordered to accompany his commander to the Ad- 

 miralty, where the latter was to report his case, and to have him 

 placed oti the list for a commission, when it should please the First 

 Lord to give him one. The commander entered the official residence 

 of the great man, while Charley, who looked on it with very different 

 feelings from those with which he used to regard it, when he mingled 

 with the crowd in Whitehall to see the King go to Parliament, stood 

 without to hear the issue of the application in his favour. One hour, 

 two hours, three, four, passed away, and his commander did not re-ap- 

 pear ; and still Charley lingered about the great door. At length the 

 porter, seeing the poor fellow waiting and wearying so long, thought 

 good to ask his business; and, on being informed of it, acquainted him 



that Captain had left the office by the park door, half an hour 



after he had entered. The truth was, the captain had succeeded in 

 an application for promotion to himself; and as for Charley's case, 

 he had never once thought of it. 



" But I'll tell you what to do," said the good-natured porter ; 

 " when you get on board again, write an account of your services to 

 the First Lord, in your own way, and be very particular in relating 

 every thing you have done, and depend upon it the First Lord will 

 examine into your claims ; and if he think they are deserving of pro- 

 motion, you will get it." 



Charley thanked the porter, and promised to follow his advice, 

 though he had some considerable doubts of the promised issue- 

 however, it was but trying. Accordingly, as soon as he got once 

 more on board, he turned to, and wrote a letter to Earl Spencer, in 

 which he set forth every thing of and concerning the capture of the 

 flag, as well as all the particulars of his connection with the service, 

 from the hour of his first impressment downwards. 



He had now a new commander ; and one of the first regulations 

 issued by this gentleman a species of animal very common in the 

 navy in those days was, that no subaltern or sailor should corres- 

 pond with any government-office on pain of his displeasure. The 

 letter, however, was, by the kindness of a mess-mate, put into 

 the post-office, and in eight-and-forty hours an answer arrived from 

 Lord Spencer's secretary, directing Charley to transmit his certifi- 

 cates to his Lordship. On the letter, with the printed heading " On 

 his Majesty's service," and the Admiralty seal on it, being brought 

 on board, Charley was called up, and, after a few curses preliminary, 

 informed that if he dared to answer it he would get a couple of dozen 



