JACK IN A CHURCH. 27 



Kill-ease, that's all ; I'd see if you'd play such pranks again. Blow ine ! 

 if you should'nt have a lash from every man in the fleet. I heered you 

 the thne afore, you luhber, I did, only I thought I'd give you an offing 

 for consideration, and fancied what you singed out slipped from you con- 

 vohmtary. Shiver my timbers ! here's a pretty go ! mutiny, by George! 



a d -ndable, sculking mutiny ! And you, too, old gentleman, why 



don't you unship your barnacles, and sing out for the master-at-arms ? 

 If you won't make your men ])ay you proper respect, why that's your 

 fault, that's all. Blow me ! if he won't get under hatches in a minute. 

 Hail for a guard, and clap him in the bilboes. Here's a jolly revolution ! 

 men turned skippers, warrant coveys, flag officers ! Blow me ! if you 

 arn't all a disgrace to His Majesty's Sarvice ; one and all, one and all, 

 from skipper to landsman.' 



" By Jove ! but you should ha' seen the church. All in as much con- 

 fusion, as the cock-pit after a thundering action. The lighter craft 

 screamed, and beginned to scud from their moorings. The men o' war 

 beared up, and wanted to see what was the matter. The parson dipped 

 down the hatchway, and swinged down to the lower deck ; while the 

 charity boys, and the chap what keeps order, corned running through 

 the reaches, to get hold o' Joe. Joe got on the seat, and was singing 

 out like a thirty-two pounder. ' I say ! you sir !' says he, ' you chap 

 with the cocked hat, three-penny cane, and laced toggery, capital order 

 you keeps 'tween decks, when the captain can't say his sav, without 

 being put out every minute. I'll warrant you was ogling the young 

 woman alongside, instead of attending to your duty. Clap on more 

 sail, old bottle-nose, and bowl down as you ought to do. Clear away 

 your grappling-irons, and run aboard your chase, or the clipper '11 slip 

 through your fingers. I've a good mind, only it 'udbe interfering with 

 regg'lations, to bring you down myself, you lantern-nosed, goosebeny- 

 eyed, bason-headed, limber-finned, bell-pulling, spade-driving, psalm- 

 singing, son of a poor-box and parish book. You'll soon heave to in 

 limbo, that's one comfort ; so come down, and victual for the cruise, and 

 be d — d to you !' 



" Howsomdever, Joe was stopped short in his 'dress to the ship's 

 company, and hauled out by a half-dozen of the hands, into the stern 

 galleries. A few o' those on board, 'specially the parson, and his first 

 and second mate, wanted to march him off for a court-martial, under the 

 charge, as they said, of disturbing the congregation at their 'votions ; 

 but one or two of the most 'spectable passengers offered to become 

 bail for his 'pearance, and so they taked ofl"liis lumburgo, and let him warp 

 away. The damage a'ter all was wasn't of no great importance ; but 

 often as he's been since in Portsmouth, blow me if you could ever get 

 him into any thing what mounted a steeple, or had a warrant officer 

 forreds with a cocked-hat, cane, and laced jacket." 



Bill Rogers, 



LATE H. M. S. " FIRE-l'LY." 



