A NOTABLE CHARACTER. 17 



are generally in high spirits, always in the way, frolicking or 

 eating, much fondled and scolded, and very dirty. 



The most notable character in our part of the ship, is one Dr. 

 T., another returning emigrant physician. He appears to have 

 been well educated, and is of a wealthy Irish family. His 

 diploma is signed by Sir Astley Cooper, whose autograph we 

 have thus seen. Though a young man, he is all broken down in 

 spirit and body from hard drinking. He makes himself a buffoon 

 for the amusement of the passengers ; and some of the young 

 men of the first cabin are wicked enough to reward him some- 

 times with liquor, which makes him downright crazy. Even the 

 pale-faced student, who kept his neighbors awake with his mid- 

 night prayers while he was sea-sick, has participated in this cruel 

 fun. Dr. T. has been " smutten," as the second mate says, by a 

 young lady of the first cabin, who does not altogether discourage 

 his gallant attentions. He keeps up the habits of a gentleman in 

 the reduction of his circumstances, eating his dinner at four 

 o'clock, (being thus enabled to cook it while the first-cabin people 

 are below eating theirs, which is served at half-past three). He 

 declares it was only to oblige the owners that he took a berth in 

 the second cabin, and he certainly should not have done so, if he 

 had suspected the promiscuous character of the company he 

 should be associated with there. The forenoon he spends in 

 combing his hair and whiskers, cleaning his threadbare coat, 

 smoothing his crushed hat, and polishing his shoes. Now, indeed, 

 since he has become conscious of the tender passion, and can feed 

 on love, he has traded off a part of his stock of bread for a pair 

 of boots, which enables him to dispense with stockings and straps, 

 much to his relief in dances and fencing bouts. Towards noon 

 he comes on deck with his coat buttoned to the neck ; he wears 

 a stock and no collar; his hat is set on rakishly; he has a yellow 

 kid glove for his right hand, the thumb only is missing his 

 2 



