CHAPTER 11. 



AFTER A VISIT TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT, REPORTS THERE- 

 UPON TO THE EDITOR. SUGGESTIONS TO INTENDING 

 YACHTISTS. 



RULY, Sir, I have been representing you, nau- 

 tically, and you did not know it. No ! Like 

 one of " the gentlemen of England who live at 

 home at ease," you were reclining in the old 

 ann-chair, in the chimney corner, of course with the fire out, 

 and only in order to get a draught of fresh air from the 

 chimney itself, — you, I say, were thus reclining, little wotting, 

 or (to sound nautically) little recking (" spell it with a w, my 

 Lord ") of the dangers which Your Representative was incur- 

 ring 'twixt Southsea and Cowes. 



Belay, you land lubbers ! 'Twas in Stokes' Bay, or, to be 

 accurate, 'twas off the Southsea Pier, I waved a sorrowful 

 adieu to the Poll of my heart, and bade a long farewell to the 

 shores of Old England, intending to remain in the Isle of 

 Wight from, at all events, Friday afternoon till Monday 

 morning. A brisk breeze sprang up, the sparkling waves 

 danced with joy, as, answering to her helm, the Saucy (I 

 forget her name) bared her snowy bosom to the sun, and, 

 swan-hke. ghded o'er the glad waters of the dark blue sea. 



