18 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



thumb, therefore, is stuck under the breast of his coat, allowing 

 the rest to be advantageously displayed ; his other hand is carried 

 habitually in the mode of Mr. Pickwick, under the skirt of his 

 coat. He has in his mouth the stump of a cigar that he found 

 last night upon the deck, and has saved for the occasion. After 

 walking until it is smoked out with the gentlemen to whom he 

 manages to give the impression that he has just finished his 

 breakfast he approaches, with a really elegant air, to the ladies, 

 and, gracefully bowing, inquires after their health. Then, after 

 gazing upwards at the sun a moment, he takes the attitude, 

 " Napoleon at St. Helena," his left hand hidden under his right 

 arm, and, in a deep, tremulous voice, says, " Ourre nooble bar- 

 ruck still cleaves the breeny ailiment, and bears us on with 

 velucitay 'twarrd th' expectant shoorres of Albeeon's eel. Ah ! 

 what a grrand expanse it is of weeld-washing waterrers ! De- 

 leeghtful waytherr, 'pon my worrud." He is a good fencer, 

 boxer, card player, and trickster; a safe waltzer, even in a 

 rolling ship ; and when half-seas over, dances a jig, hornpipe, or 

 pas seulj and turns a pirouette on the top of the capstan ; plays a 

 cracked clarionet, and can get something out of every sort of mu- 

 sical instrument ; he spouts theatrically, gives imitations of living 

 actors, sings every thing, improvises, and on Sunday chants from 

 the prayer-book, so that even then the religiously inclined may 

 conscientiously enjoy his entertainment. A most rare treasure 

 for a long passage ! Some of our passengers declare they would 

 have died of dullness if it had not been for him. 



There is another Irishman (from the North), who has written 

 a poem as long as Paradise Lost, the manuscript of which he 

 keeps under lock and key, in a small trunk, at the head of his 

 bed, and, as they say, fastened to a life-preserver. It is never 

 out of his head, however, and he manages to find something to 

 quote from it appropriate to every occasion. You might suppose 



