IV 



A S the old fox-hunting squire typified a certain 

 aspect of English life, the jolly tar, in the days 

 of the Napoleonic wars, typified another. 



Men-of-war's-men eagerly seized every chance of 

 enjoyment during their sojourn on shore, and at 

 fairs, race meetings, and the like were to be seen by 

 hundreds in all their glory ; their sweethearts by 

 their sides in their span new rigging, with streamers 

 flying of every hue that fancy could devise, or beauty 

 be decked in. 



The eccentricities of tars ashore excited little 

 astonishment, and unless their conduct was offensively 

 outrageous, they were allowed to do pretty much as 

 they liked. 



In November, 1812, for instance, a decent-looking 

 man, who wore the uniform of a warrant officer of a 

 ship-of-war, and who had sacrificed too freely to 

 Bacchus, was so completely overcome on reaching 

 St. James's Church, Piccadilly, that he fell down and 

 was unable to get up again. He seemed perfectly con- 

 tented with his situation, and immediately composed 

 himself to sleep, in such a manner, however, as com- 

 pletely to block up the footpath. He was accom- 

 panied by a large Newfoundland dog, who, the 



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