The Merry Past 



observations of the sailor with good humour, but 

 also the contemptuous grins of his fellow-passengers. 



On their arrival at Portsmouth, the admiral shook 

 hands with the mate, and departed. Later in the day, 

 Sir Roger came on shore in his broad gold-laced hat 

 and uniform ; he was attended by all his bargemen, 

 and while walking up Point Street he met his late 

 fellow-passenger, the mate of the Indiaman. Before 

 the latter could recover from his surprise. Sir Roger 

 accosted him with " What cheer, messmate ? You 

 see I am not the lubber you took me for ; but come, 

 as I breakfasted out of your locker this morning, you 

 shall splice the main-brace with me this evening, then 

 you may square your yards and run before the wind 

 to the Mother Bank." The mate, quite dumfoundered, 

 apologised, as well as he was able, for the liberty he 

 had taken with the admiral, who soon released him 

 from his embarrassment, and advised him, afterdinner, 

 never to be decoyed by false colours, but to look 

 sharply at the build and trim of every vessel he met 

 before he suffered her to surprise him. 



George III was very fond of a jolly sea captain, 

 Captain Nagle (afterwards Sir Edmund Nagle), whose 

 blunt wit made the good old King laugh. On a 

 certain occasion this sailor was amusing the King with 

 a story of a brother midshipman who had been a great 

 enemy of his, but to whom he returned good for evil 

 by jumping overboard one day and saving his life, 

 he having fallen out of the rigging, after which they 

 became fast friends. " That was noble of you," said 

 the King. " I suppose after that he would have 



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