NIM ROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 169 



to be, there is something in it that takes^ and I can produce a 

 striking instance of its persuasive power. A few years back, a 

 common sailor brought an action (at Lancaster, I believe) 

 against a captain of a merchant-ship, for ill usage on the 

 voyage, when, on its appearing to have been the second time of 

 his having subjected himself to it, he was naturally enough in- 

 terrogated by the judge as to his reasons for again sailing with 

 such an inhuman captain. " Why, please your honour," said 

 Jack, " I warn't for sailing with him again, but I couldn't help 

 it ; the captain had such 'winning ways with him." " Winning 

 ways/' observed his lordship ; " what do you mean by winning 

 ways ?'' " Why please you, my lord," resumed Jack, " the cap- 

 tain comes alongside me, on the quay, slaps me on the back, and 

 says * What ! Jack you d d ill-looking, blear-eyed, squinting 



, aren't you a-going to sail again along with me ?' Please 



your honour, my lord, I couldn't help it arter all that there kind 

 discourse.' 7 



Of Captain Wemyss's power of voice I have already spoken 

 and I should think it seldom needed the aid of the trumpet, even 

 on the quarter deck. Indeed, his chairman at the Cupar dinner 

 in allusion, perhaps, to his speaking the sentiments of his 

 constituents pronounced the captain to be "no whisperer, even in 

 a drawing-room ;" but the following anecdote, related to me by 

 one who was a party concerned in it, will plainly show, that the 

 captain speaks out everywhere. My informant and himself, it 

 appeared, were one Sunday in the same pew, in the most aristo- 

 cratic church in all London. " I say, Melville,"* said the captain, 

 loud enough to be heard by half the congregation at least, 

 " thafs a d d dandified looking fellow; is he not?" Mr. 

 Melville dropped as if he had been shot, and was some time ere 

 he could venture to raise his head. But, reader ! who do you 

 imagine this "d d dandified looking fellow" to have been? 

 why no other than the parson who had just settled himself 

 in the pulpit, ready to commence his discourse, a time at which, 

 of all others, the greatest silence generally prevails in churches ! 

 Speaking out in a church, however, is no great novelty Sir 

 Roger de Coverley to wit, who would let no one sleep during the 

 sermon but himself, calling to them with an audible voice if they 

 did ; and it is written of the celebrated Lord Sackville, of former 

 days, who is said to have gone every Sunday to church at the 

 head of his whole establishment " leaving only a sentinel to 

 watch the fires at home, and mount guard upon the spits" that 



* Not Mr. Whyte Melville. 



