CHAPTER II 



THE VOYAGE OUT 



The Departure and Outfit — A Fourth-rate Man-of-War — Captain, 

 Officers, and Crew — Sea-sickness — The Quarter-deck — The 

 Cock-pit — An Accident — Lubbers' Hole — The Schoohnaster — 

 Midshipmen — Rio de Janeiro — An Extraordinary Feat — A False 

 Alarm — The Captain's Table — A Court-martial, Sentence, and 

 Execution — Scenes in the Gun-room and in the Captain's Cabin 

 — A Pleasant Time — The Middle Watch — Fore and Afternoon 

 Watches — The First Lieutenant — Corporal Punishment — The 

 Haven. 



The bustle of preparation consequent upon a sudden and 

 hasty departure on a voyage of uncertain duration, causes 

 such, a deoTce of excitement amono; all the members of a 

 family, both young and old, as to divert their thoughts 

 from dwelling on the dreaded " farewell," and serves to 

 shield the heart from the effects of the sorrowful antici- 

 pation of a long separation. 



The determination thus taken was without reference 

 to the fitness of my capacity, either of mind or body, for 

 such a profession, or to the future fate of a boy twelve 

 years and a half old. The ship being under sailing 

 orders, I was soon attired in the uniform of a midshipman 

 of the Royal Xavy, with a cocked-hat on my head and a 

 dirk by my side, and was not a little proud of my aj^pear- 

 ance. In the meantime, my kind parents were busily 

 employed in purchasing my outfit, in providing me every- 



