SAN JOSEF. 203 



of his family, and the respect I should 

 ever entertain for them; and begged him 

 to convince himself of my sincerity by 

 partaking of my hospitality. He answered 

 mine by a polite and complimentary note, 

 in which he stated the pleasure he should 

 have in acquiescing in my wishes. 



Accordingly, he took the first oppor- 

 tunity of calling upon me. He was a fine, 

 handsome young man, about six or seven 

 years my senior in age, and his complexion 

 and countenance gave sufficient evidence 

 of his having already seen a good deal of 

 service; and I had not known him long 

 before his manners convinced me that he 

 had also seen the best society. Our occa- 

 sional intercourse soon ripened into a 

 close friendship ; and upon his being ap- 

 pointed to the " San Josef," then lying at 

 St. Helens, and bearing the flag of Sir 

 Charles Cotton, I went on board that 

 splendid first-rate man-of-war, and was re- 

 ceived by his brother officers with all 



