THE KING ; GOD BLESS HIM ! 431 



and beloved sovereign, had been amongst the young gentlemen who 

 honoured my windows with their notice, I should feel prouder than I 

 could well express. Nay, sir, I have had the squares replaced, in the 

 flattering expectation that they be again demolished. Say so, if you 

 please, to the young gentlemen in general ; and, if I may so presume, 

 express, sir, I beg of you, my humble duty to His Royal Highness in 

 particular." Bulkeley had lived in courts, and probably knew some- 

 thing of royalty ; but, whoever was the mischief-maker, his loyal 

 feelings were denied further indulgence in so far as his panes were 

 concerned. It was to be learned, however, "one may go farther and 

 fare worse," for an ancient beldame, of morose and offensive manners, 

 living in a cottage, near the road that led from the eastern extremity 

 of the dock-yard to the Dutch church (I love to be particular), had 

 taken an unconquerable^ and perhaps unjustifiable, aversion to any 

 thing in the shape of a middy, until they were real living " blue 

 devils " in her eyes ; and all and every epithet degrading to white 

 cord, anchor buttons, and dwarf dirks, was regularly heaped upon 

 the junior members of his Majesty's navy. The middies, if not men, 

 were human, and susceptible to human passions and infirmities. The 

 ancient lady's lights, became residuary legatees of old Bulkeley's 

 panes ; and her hatred of cockpits frequently was 'scarcely allayed by 

 the startling suggestions she received of their nightly cruize abroad 

 amongst the breakers. But with the sang froid and skill of a Wel- 

 lington, the venerable dame resorted to her tactics ; and taking her 

 station at the wicket, which it was necessary to enter, to ensure " a 

 right proper shy/' like another Hecate, armed with a broomstick, 

 she awaited the appearance of " the spirits of the vasty deep." 

 Cautiously and warily, as old Townshend in search of a coiner, the 

 reefer came, and the first note of bombardment was scarcely given, 

 when it was responded to, with force and vigour highly creditable 

 to her years : blow followed blow in a style of " independent firing," 

 that at last induced the youngster to roar out for mercy ; alleging, 

 most profanely, that he was the Prince true or false, and it was un- 

 doubtedly the latter. Woman's wit but aided woman's vengeance, as 

 , she reiterated her ligneous attentions with renewed spirit, in crying, 

 " You wicked scapegrace, you will break my windows, will you, 

 and then wrong the son of the king blue-bottle imp that ye are 

 by pretending to be His Highness ? cockroach of the cockpit !" 

 Luckily, the object of her loyal remonstrances, by a desperate effort, 

 cleared the gangway of the beldame's premises, right glad to escape 

 such emphatic exemplification of the doctrine of " preachee and 

 floggee too." 



" There's midnight by the bell of the chateau ; cried a sentimental 

 sub-lieutenant of Marines ; the storm is hushed the moon is on 

 the wave ; the shore of Savoy clear as at noon-day ; the Col. de 

 Forclaz and Mont Blanc are 



" All glorious as the gates of heaven 

 Beneath the keen full moon ." 



" Coleridge be good to us, it is a lovely night ! But hie thee 

 back to Halifax, good Captain." 



" To Halifax be it then. One of the principal streets of the town 



