1830.] Tales oj a Tar. 673 



'The delegates' order is enough !' ' Not so/ 1 returned f the order should a?surne 

 the form and character of a DEATH WARRANT, so that every man may know 

 for what he has to answer.' Well, none were acquainted with the form. I 

 affected to know something of the matter, and immediately commenced to commit 

 it to paper. 



"'What. you. you, John, volunteer to write the order for the lieutenant's 

 death!' loudly ejaculated the astonished Turner, whose short absence from the 

 group had lost him a portion of the previous account. 



" ( I did and moreover I don't hesitate to say that the recollection of that vo- 

 luntary deed has often consoled me in a solitary hour.' 



" ' Well, ev'ry one to his likin'. But see here, John may I be ' asseve- 

 rated Turner, again bringing his bamboo in an awkward collision with some of 

 senseless legs of the circle ' but afore I'd a drawn out the warrant, I'd regularly 

 been drawn and quartered myself.' 



" ( We are on the opposite tacks,' said Fleming. f I'd a motive for doing as I 

 did. It was a dangerous experiment, I grant but what will we not risk in cases 

 of life and death ? and I have often thought/ continued the hoary-headed ve- 

 teran, assuming a solemnity of tone, '(nor do I say it profanely) that the great 

 God above, looking down on our evil deeds, must then have endowed me with 

 an intuitive command of language; for in the composition of the death-warrant, 

 every word seemed to point premeditated murder to him who had the hardihood 

 to sign it! Well, when completed, I gave it to Joic?, observing that it was ne- 

 cessary the warrant should be signed by all the delegates assembled. Joica cast 

 his eye over it, handed it to next on his left, and said, in a most impressive 

 manner, ( Will you be bold enough to put your name to that c ? ' No,' was the 

 decided answer, as soon as the paper was perused, and in the same manner it 

 passed round the table by all unsigned for when it came to the point, that 

 heart which never failed in a just cause, failed then to follow the cruel dictates 

 of the rash head.' 



" ' Hurrah !' cheered Turner, brandishing his stick in the air. ' Damme Jack 

 was never intended to be a Jack Ketch but go on, old boy, for you're a regular 

 blue !' " 



We are sorry to relate, that in the following remarks of the seamen 

 there is but too much truth, even in the present day. Military men hold 

 places under government, are governors of colonies, and, indeed, have 

 the monopoly of every situation that requires the services of an officer. 

 Now, with all due submission to our rulers, we cannot but consider 

 it an act of positive injustice that these advantages are not fairly divided 

 between the two services. The naval officers of rank are as highly 

 gifted and capable men as those of the army; and they have laid as 

 many laurels at the feet of their country. Now that the want of employ- 

 ment has inclined so many of both services to resort to the pen, it will 

 be a fair criterion of their respective qualifications to judge them by the 

 works which have appeared from the press. Let the public decide 

 between their respective merits. 



" ' But, you know, John/ said Jones, ' it's always the casr from first to last, 

 the sogers have always beenfavovr'd men. Look at the beginning o'the war; 

 no sooner Mister Crappo expends his king, and we battles the watch wi' him. for 

 spilling royal blood on the block, nor long-headed B illy* gives the lobsters a lift, 

 and increases their pay and prog; but look how it was with we. The same 

 allowance in wages and wittels as was given, ay, for years and years afore the 

 BUIift was built, remains unraised till we betters ourselves by the breeze ; though 

 grog and grub, and gear, and all the necessaries o' life to support our families 

 ashore, was more, ay, more nor treble in price. So, see here (and it's no more 

 nor the nat'ral truth) the sogers have always found favor, when far better men 

 have been always forgot.' 



* The late Mr. Pitt. t The Royal WIMsm. 



M.M. New Series.- VOL. IX No. M. " 4 R 



