The Merry Past 



however, objected to be assisted in his decision by the 

 influence of gra^pe shot. Eventually, after much 

 storming, the captain somewhat calmed down and 

 said it was only a drunken frolic ; he was released after 

 making due amends for his escapade. 



In 1809, Cheltenham was much disturbed at the 

 doings of a certain Captain Brisac, a naval officer, who 

 had formerly commanded the " Iris." Things at 

 last reached a climax when the captain and his com- 

 panions procured a set of workmen to erect four tall 

 poles, with figures hung on them, in front of the 

 villa of Lady Mary Lindsay Crawford, accompanied 

 with a drum and fife playing, a gun firing, and the 

 noise of a rattle. These figures were left standing 

 several days, not only to the annoyance of her lady- 

 ship, but of all the company who frequented Mr. 

 Thompson's public walks and rides, which adjoined 

 the spot. Mr. Brisac and four others were indicted 

 for this riotous proceeding, and after a long trial were 

 all found guilty. The Chairman of the Quarter 

 Sessions addressed the culprit on the impropriety of 

 his conduct, but as he had made an apology for himself 

 and the other defendants, the court only inflicted a 

 fine of ten guineas. 



Captain Montague, a brave but whimsical officer, 

 incurred the displeasure of the demure magistrates of 

 Philadelphia, by kissing his wife on her arrival, on a 

 Sunday, and was obliged to pay a fine — the penalty 

 of such a flagrant breach of decorum. To prove he 

 had no malice in his heart, he invited all these stern 

 models of virtue to dine on board his vessel the 



106 



