MINISTER OF THE CROWN. 39 



of the Crown, and a near relative of 

 the distinguished officer I have been 

 speaking of, that the conversation, turn- 

 ing on nautical subjects, I named 

 many officers of high rank and distinc- 

 tion, and my right honourable com- 

 panion asked me if I had ever been 

 acquainted with the Commissioner of 

 Portsmouth dockyard, and requested to 

 hear what I knew of him. 



I stated, in reply, that I had known him 

 many years ; and described him as in per- 

 son of a very commanding appearance, re- 

 markably upright in his carriage which 

 is not very common with those of the 

 most aristocratic birth, who have spent 

 their youth on board ship with rather 

 an austere expression of countenance. I 

 said that his manner to those who did 

 not know him would be, indeed was, 

 set down as haughty in the extreme ; 

 and that though I always found him 



