COMPANIONS. 165 



With this friend was I associated in every- 

 thing that was worthy of observation, and 

 with every occurrence of importance, in the 

 naval and military departments. Was there 

 a ship-launch in the dockyard, we were 

 there ; was a line-of-battle ship a first-rate 

 going out of or coming into harbour, we 

 were on the platform to witness the mag- 

 nificent spectacle ; was there a regiment of 

 the line about to march down the High 

 Street to the Sally-port, to embark for 

 foreign service, we were sure to meet 

 them at the Landport-gates, and accom- 

 pany them, keeping time to their martial 

 music ; did a detachment of invalids, sick 

 or wounded, disembark, we were on the 

 beach to receive them ; did a bull-bait 

 take place in the neighbourhood, or a 

 cock-fight call us out of town, we were 

 there too. Of the first, I may say I 

 never witnessed but one ; but the picture 

 of the maddened beast, the sleek and 

 courageous dog tossed high in the air 



