192 ACCIDENT. 



worth. It was on returning from thence 

 he met with an accident that caused 

 him to be sent home. Standing on the 

 quarter-deck, the studding-sail haulyard- 

 block fell from the maintop-gallant yard- 

 arm, and, striking him on the face, gave 

 his jib-boom a twist that never righted ; 

 and the scar, also inflicted by the blow, 

 he carried with him to an early grave. 



In consequence of this he left the 

 service for a time; and, being still very 

 young, was sent to a celebrated naval 

 academy at Gosport; but an offer being 

 made by his old captain,* who was son 

 and brother to a peer, for him to sail 

 in a small frigate, commanded by a 

 young officer just posted, then fitting out 

 at Portsmouth, I had to see him on 

 board. Though we had already expe- 

 rienced the hardships and privations of a 

 midshipman's berth, he was very loth to 

 leave the comfort and comparative lux- 

 uries of our happy home in exchange. 



* The Hon. Courtenay Boyle. 



