28 The Woman of Visions ; a Mediterranean Sketch. QJuly 



As they approached Ajaccio, the count was the first to catch a glimpse 

 of the English frigate, which had cast anchor near the Isles of San- 

 guinari. 



" Heaven be thanked !" exclaimed he : " to-morrow we depart." 

 " Is there nothing to be seen here?" said Lord Charles. 

 " Nothing — nothing ! Pray do not go looking for more relatives \" 

 After a pleasant passage, the two friends arrived at IMalta. The Count 

 Talzikoff there found letters from his family, which perfectly quieted 

 Lord Charles Douglass as to his future fate. Federowna announced her 

 marriage with a young French noble. But this did not disturb the 

 friendship of her shghted lover and his friend ; and it was under 

 the shade of the orange-trees, at a beautiful country-house belonging to 

 an English military friend of the former, that he and Count Alexis 

 perused the story of the mysterious volume. But this must be kept for 

 other hours. 



THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER.* 



The moral and intellectual character of the English Navy has consi- 

 derably advanced in public estimation of late years. At no period of its 

 existence has any doubt been entertained of that fervent spirit of enter- 

 prise, of that matchless courage — at once cool and daring in the highest 

 degree — or of that lofty and generous devotion to the severe duties of a 

 hazardous profession, which have distinguished British sailors. A cer- 

 tain portion of vague and general praise has been universally awarded to 

 these qualities : — tlie names of Dr.ike, and Benbow, and Howe, and 

 Rodney, awoke feelings of national pride whenever they were men- 

 tioned ; but no one thought of attributing to them any other or higher 

 qualifications than those which belong exclusively to their profession, 

 and the notion had become general, that the life and habits of a sailor 

 unfitted him for any other pursuit. Now, indeed, Ave may quote the 

 names of St. Vincent, and Nelson, as sufficient proofs that the navy has 

 produced men who were not less competent to provide for the safety, and 

 to protect the interests of their country, in the cabinet, than to fight her 

 battles on the quarter-deck ; but the time has been — and not so long ago 

 as to be quite forgotten — when a sea-captain was considered just about 

 as fit to take a part in the business or enjoyments of social life, as a 

 sea-calf would be to occupy a corner in a quadrille. All human feel- 

 ings and passions were supposed to " suffer a sea-change" in their per- 

 sons. Tar and rum were the most savoury of the associations connected 

 with them : and they were considered, when the fight was over, and their 

 services no longer needed, to be no more useful, and not much more 

 ornamental, than one of their own ships run ashore and dismantled, 

 and waiting only a favourable opportunity to be returned to some vile 

 uses. 



It would be easier to account for the means by which this most inju- 

 rious and erroneous notion has been formed, than to justify it ; and the 

 most prominent of the causes is the extreme modesty of naval ofiicers. 

 That contempt for display and parade which distinguishes them from 



• Late of H. M. S. Nisus. By Captain \V. Smyth, R. N. 1823. 



